Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai. Indian Railways has deactivated over 2.5 crore user IDs on the IRCTC platform. This step was taken to prevent misuse of the online ticket booking system. The Ministry of Railways confirmed this in response to questions raised by MP AD Singh in Parliament. According to the government, advanced data analytics revealed abnormal and repetitive booking behavior. It was found that these accounts were not being used by regular passengers, but were operated using bots or by agents.
Digital reforms to make ticketing safer and easier
To improve the booking system, Railways is rolling out several digital reforms. From 1st July 2025, booking of Tatkal tickets will only be allowed for users authenticated through Aadhaar. IRCTC agents are also restricted from booking Tatkal tickets in the first 30 minutes of opening. Additionally, digital payment facilities have been made available at PRS counters to encourage cashless transactions.
Why tickets disappear in minutes
The government has admitted that tickets on popular routes and for convenient timings are often booked within minutes of the booking window opening. This rapid booking is mostly seen in high-demand trains. On the other hand, tickets in less busy trains are generally available. To meet passenger demand, Indian Railways introduces special trains and adds extra coaches to existing ones wherever necessary.
Making the system transparent and passenger-friendly
Indian Railways is trying to make the reservation system more transparent and efficient. Currently, 89 percent of train tickets are booked online on a first-come-first-served basis. The ‘Vikalp’ scheme offers confirmed seats to waitlisted passengers in alternative trains. Railways also runs special trains during festive seasons or peak demand periods to help passengers get confirmed seats.
Main reasons behind deactivation of IDs
The deactivation was done after analyzing suspicious activities such as repeated fast bookings, usage of automated tools, and bulk ticket purchases. These practices were preventing common users from getting confirmed tickets. By disabling these accounts, the aim is to ensure fair access for regular passengers. The move is also part of the railway’s broader goal to prevent misuse of its digital services.
Goal is a safe and fair booking experience
Railways wants to make ticket booking more secure, transparent, and travel-friendly. The idea is to protect genuine passengers from fraud and unfair practices. Aadhaar verification, digital payments, and tighter control on agents are some steps taken towards that. The government has also urged passengers to use only official IRCTC platforms and stay away from suspicious agents or websites.
7 key points at a glance:
- Indian Railways deactivated over 2.5 crore IRCTC user IDs.
- Action based on data analytics showing suspicious, repetitive booking behavior.
- Tatkal bookings now restricted to Aadhaar-authenticated users only.
- IRCTC agents banned from Tatkal booking for the first 30 minutes.
- Digital payment now available at reservation counters.
- 89% of tickets are booked online; Vikalp scheme helps waitlisted passengers.
- Goal is to make the system fraud-free, transparent, and user-friendly.
