In a massive cleanup move to make train travel more transparent and efficient, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has deactivated over 2.5 crore user IDs. The announcement was made in the Rajya Sabha by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, citing the need to curb misuse and fraud in online ticket booking.
Why Were These User IDs Deactivated?
During an extensive data point analysis, IRCTC identified millions of suspicious user credentials. These were mostly found to be linked to malpractices such as bulk booking, bot-based automation, or identity manipulation—hindering genuine passengers from securing confirmed tickets.
“To curb malpractices in ticket booking, IRCTC has recently deactivated over 2.5 crore user IDs as their credentials were found suspicious,” said Railway Minister Vaishnaw.
Stricter Booking Rules in Place
IRCTC has implemented several new rules effective July 1, 2025, including:
– Aadhaar authentication now mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets online.
– Agents banned from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of opening.
– 89% of ticket bookings now occur via online platforms, pushing digital adoption.
– PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counters now support digital payments.
Passenger-Friendly Initiatives
To enhance passenger access and reduce waitlists, the Indian Railways is:
Increasing special train services during peak times.
Operating under the VIKALP scheme, allowing waitlisted passengers to shift to alternate trains.
Launching a new portal for MPs (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) for exclusive ticket booking access.
Why It Matters
This bold action by IRCTC underscores Indian Railways’ commitment to a fair, transparent, and digital-first passenger experience. With Tatkal bookings often being hijacked by agents and bots, these reforms aim to restore confidence among genuine users.