Why Indian Railways Makes Aadhaar OTP Mandatory for Ticket Booking? Here is What we Know
Indian Railways makes Aadhaar OTP mandatory for ticket booking in 300 trains to stop agent misuse and ensure transparent, fair access for passengers.
In a major move aimed at improving transparency and passenger convenience, Indian Railways has made Aadhaar-based OTP verification mandatory for booking train tickets. The new rule has been introduced to stop irregular bookings by agents and ensure that genuine passengers get tickets easily.
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Why Aadhaar OTP Has Been Made Mandatory
For a long time, complaints have surfaced that unauthorised agents book tickets in bulk as soon as bookings open, leaving the common man without confirmed tickets. To curb this practice, Indian Railways has decided to introduce OTP-based Aadhaar verification during ticket booking.
Key objectives of the new rule include:
- Preventing middlemen and fake bookings
- Ensuring fair access to tickets for passengers
- Bringing transparency and safety to the booking process
Aadhaar OTP Introduced in 300 Trains
In the first phase, the Aadhaar OTP-based ticket booking system has been launched in 300 trains across the country. The system became effective from Monday.
Under the new rule:
- Tickets cannot be booked without OTP verification
- An OTP will be sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number
- Ticket confirmation will happen only after OTP entry
New Rules at Railway Reservation Counters
The Aadhaar OTP system is not limited to online bookings alone. Even at railway reservation counters, passengers will now have to verify their identity.
At ticket counters:
- Passengers must provide their mobile number
- The counter operator will enter the OTP received on the mobile
- Tickets will be issued only after successful verification
Railway officials said this step will prevent one person from booking multiple tickets unfairly.
Aadhaar Verification on IRCTC Website
A similar system has also been introduced on the IRCTC website. Passengers booking tickets online will now have to complete Aadhaar verification before proceeding with reservations.
This move is expected to make online ticket booking more secure and passenger-friendly.
Extension to All Trains Soon
Railway officials have confirmed that the Aadhaar OTP system will be extended to all trains in a phased manner. The response to the first phase involving 300 trains will be reviewed before full implementation.
Once fully rolled out, the system is expected to:
- Eliminate unauthorised agent activity
- Reduce ticket booking irregularities
- Improve trust in the railway reservation system
Indian Railways said the decision reflects its commitment to ensuring safe, transparent, and convenient ticket booking for millions of passengers across the country.
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