Indian Railways Deactivates Over 3 Crore Suspicious IDs as Aadhaar-OTP Tatkal Booking Rolls Out in 322 Trains

Railways strengthens Tatkal ticketing with Aadhaar-based OTP in 322 trains and removes 3.02 crore fake user accounts to improve fairness and accessibility.

Pune|11 December 2025: Indian Railways has taken firm action to tighten security and fairness in its ticket reservation system by deactivating over 3.02 crore suspicious user accounts and expanding Aadhaar-based one-time password (OTP) verification for 322 trains. The measures are designed to curb misuse of the popular Tatkal ticketing service, reduce automated or fraudulent bookings and improve access for genuine passengers during peak travel periods.

According to information shared in Parliament, the railways has been revalidating user accounts since January 2025, leading to the removal of millions of non-genuine IDs that were identified through data analysis and system checks. These accounts were believed to be linked with automated booking tools, bulk booking agents and other unfair practices that make it harder for ordinary passengers to secure Tatkal tickets. Railways has also deployed advanced anti-bot technology, including AKAMAI filters, to block automated attempts at ticketing.

To strengthen the booking system further, Aadhaar-OTP verification is now being implemented for online Tatkal bookings across 322 trains. Railways officials say that requiring users to authenticate their identity through a one-time password linked to Aadhaar has had a measurable impact, with confirmed Tatkal ticket availability times increasing by nearly 65 percent on these routes. This expanded rollout aligns with phased plans to eventually cover more trains nationwide.

The Aadhaar-OTP verification isn’t limited to online bookings. It has also been phased into reservation counters, where it is currently active for 211 trains as part of broader efforts to close loopholes that previously allowed unauthorised bookings at physical ticketing booths. Reports indicate that this combined approach has improved ticket availability in about 95 percent of the country’s most popular trains used by long-distance travellers.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that these steps are part of a wider strategy to make the digital reservation system more secure, transparent and user-friendly. By tying ticket bookings to verified Aadhaar identities, the system makes it harder for bots and fake accounts to dominate high-demand booking windows, which traditionally opened with intense competition at the start of the Tatkal sale period.

To support these upgrades, the railway reservation platform has also been fortified with enhanced cybersecurity measures. This includes the use of network firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, web application firewalls, and hosting the reservation infrastructure within secure, access-controlled data centres with CCTV surveillance and end-to-end encryption. These security standards conform to ISO-certified information security frameworks to better protect passenger data and prevent breaches.

RailTel Corporation is providing cyber threat intelligence services, such as deep and dark web monitoring, threat takedown support and digital risk protection, which help detect suspicious activity and improve incident response times. In addition, CERT-IN-approved agencies conduct regular security audits, while national cybersecurity bodies continuously monitor reservation traffic to guard against potential attacks.

Passengers and public representatives can file complaints about unusual booking patterns through cybercrime reporting portals, which support identification of fraudulent activity and contribute to ongoing enforcement efforts. These combined initiatives signal a stronger push by Indian Railways to protect its reservation ecosystem, counteract misuse, and create a more equitable experience for all travellers.

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