To curb online fraud, Indian Railways deactivated over 2.5 crore IRCTC accounts. New rules now require Aadhaar verification and restrict agents. The move ensures fairer, faster bookings for real passengers.
New Delhi, July 27, 2025: In a decisive crackdown on ticket booking fraud, Indian Railways has deactivated over 2.5 crore IRCTC user IDs. This major action follows the detection of suspicious booking activities and misuse by agents and bots that were disrupting the online reservation system.
Numerous complaints had surfaced about tickets vanishing within minutes of opening bookings. Upon investigation, Indian Railways discovered patterns suggesting automation and fake accounts being used to hoard tickets, depriving genuine users of fair access.
Responding to a query in Parliament by MP A.D. Singh, the government confirmed that over 2.5 crore suspicious user IDs were removed to streamline and secure the booking process. Officials clarified that tickets can now only be booked online or at PRS counters on a first-come, first-served basis. Aadhaar verification has been made mandatory for Tatkal bookings on IRCTC, and agents are now barred from booking tickets during the first 30 minutes of the Tatkal window.
Currently, 89% of railway tickets are booked online. In a bid to further transparency, IRCTC has also rolled out digital payment options at reservation counters. The railways continues to monitor high-demand routes, introduce special trains, and add extra coaches when needed. Schemes like ticket upgradation and seat optimization are also being pushed to benefit waitlisted passengers.
If a user account has been deactivated, passengers can check their login status on the IRCTC website or app. If they receive an “Account disabled” or “Invalid credentials” message, they are advised to contact IRCTC customer care for assistance.
Indian Railways states that these reforms aim to improve fairness, boost transparency, and make it easier for genuine travelers to book tickets without the interference of agents or automated systems.
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