CHENNAI: From Tuesday onwards, passengers who have not linked and verified their Aadhaar with their IRCTC accounts will no longer be able to book tatkal tickets online. The railways are yet to announce alternative documents for authentication while booking e-tickets. As a result, users without Aadhaar-linked IRCTC accounts will be able to book tatkal tickets only at reservation counters from Tuesday.
The move is aimed at bringing transparency in ticket booking, ending the eight-year battle of Indian Railways against use of illegal software in tatkal ticket booking. The OTP-based verification system for both e-tickets and paper tickets set to be launched on July 15 is expected to slow down the tatkal booking process, thereby putting an end to the long-standing issue of tickets disappearing within seconds.
Currently, tatkal tickets are being sold out within seconds by touts and agents using illegal software, especially on high-demand routes, and are resold at a profit margin of 150% to 200%. On average, around 2.25 lakh tatkal tickets are booked each day across India.
IRCTC and railway officials clarified that Aadhaar authentication is mandatory only for tatkal bookings. “Passengers who haven’t validated their Aadhaar can still book regular train tickets through the IRCTC website and app,” an official explained.
The integration of the IRCTC website with the UIDAI portal for Aadhaar authentication and OTP verification is likely to increase server load, which could further delay bookings across the country.
For passengers booking e-tickets through the IRCTC portal or mobile app, the OTP will be sent to the mobile number linked with their Aadhaar. In contrast, for bookings made at reservation counters, the OTP will be sent to the mobile number provided in the reservation form.
“The passenger should present the OTP to the counter staff to complete the booking process. Counter bookings are expected to be faster than online bookings,” said a source.
While the move is expected to cause inconvenience to passengers initially, it aims to eliminate the misuse of illegal software in tatkal bookings – a problem that has persisted for over eight years.
Despite the railways introducing multiple security measures – including disabling bookings within the first 60 seconds and additional firewalls – such software has continued to bypass CAPTCHA codes and bank OTPs, allowing unauthorised bookings.
In the past, the railways formed multiple committees to identify and address vulnerabilities in the IRCTC portal, aiming to prevent data transfer between illegal software and the system. However, these efforts proved ineffective.
“The new OTP-based authentication system is expected to finally eliminate the use of illegal software once and for all,” a railway official said.
In December 2017, a former employee of the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) –the agency that operates the IRCTC portal – was arrested in New Delhi for creating and distributing illegal booking software to travel agents across the country.
Recently, the railways implemented AI-based monitoring systems to track booking patterns and detect anomalies that indicate touting, such as multiple bookings from the same IP address or use of VPNs. As a result, around 2.5 crore IRCTC accounts have been suspended and an additional 20 lakh accounts placed on hold.
Booking rules
Effective from July 1
Only Aadhaar-verified IRCTC accounts will be allowed to book tatkal e-tickets online
Users without Aadhaar verification can book tatkal tickets only at railway reservation counters
Effective from July 15
For online tatkal bookings, an OTP will be sent to the mobile number linked to the Aadhaar
For counter bookings, the OTP will be sent to the mobile number provided in the reservation form
Q&A
I don’t want to link my Aadhaar. Can I still book train tickets online?
Yes, you can still book regular train tickets online. However, tatkal tickets will only be available to Aadhaar-verified users
I don’t have a mobile number linked to my Aadhaar. What should I do?
The railways will soon announce alternative ID options such as Driving Licence, PAN Card, and others for authentication in place of Aadhaar
My IRCTC account has been suspended by the railways. What are my options?
You can create a new IRCTC account. To book tatkal tickets, please complete Aadhaar verification