Aadhaar-linked train ticket booking mandate from October 1

The Indian Railways will mandate passenger ticket bookings by only Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts for the first 15 minutes of reservation window. This new rule will be effective October 1 and expands an existing mandate which was limited to booking Tatkal rail tickets.

“This step aims to ensure that the benefits of the reservation system reach genuine users and curb misuse by unauthorized or unscrupulous agents,” an official statement said while adding the new rule applies exclusively to online bookings through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website and its mobile app.

The existing restriction preventing authorized ticketing agents from booking tickets during the first 10 minutes of opening day reservations will continue, the statement said.

Timing and procedure for booking through computerised passenger reservation system (PRS) counters remain unaffected. This move is expected to strengthen the online ticketing environment, while reducing fraudulent bookings, the statement added.