Black marketing in Tatkal ruining Aadhaar-based train ticketing: Here's how

Bengaluru: Authorities have been taking strict action against agents and black-market rackets that deliberately create train ticket shortages through mass bookings. Despite the launch of an Aadhaar-based OTP booking system to ensure transparency and efficiency, such malpractices have been rampant. Tickets that are blocked in this manner are sold at three times the price, especially during weekends and festival seasons, on the black market. Agents make mass bookings using various IDs through IRCTC’s website and mobile app. The IT cell of the Railway Protection Force has been conducting regular inspections to freeze such fraudulent accounts. However, the agents will open new accounts within days and continue the fraudulent practice.

No booking at counter
As per the new booking rule implemented on July 1, Aadhaar is mandatory to book a Tatkal ticket via the IRCTC website and mobile app. Aadhar number should be provided to book Tatkal tickets directly at the railway counters or counters of approved agencies. However, it’s doubtful that you will be able to book tickets through the counters. Meanwhile, the Railways state that the new rule has been introduced to ensure that real passengers get confirmed Tatkal tickets.

Although tatkal booking for AC coaches begins at 10 am, the booking account of approved agents would be opened only 30 minutes later. Meanwhile, the tatkal booking for sleeper coaches begins at 11 am, and the agents can start booking only by 11.30 am.

No Tatkal to Kerala
Complaints have been rife that there are hardly any Tatkal tickets available in trains to Kerala from Bengaluru. Booking Tatkal tickets in trains like the KSR Bengaluru – Kanyakumari Express and Mysuru- Thiruvananthapuram North Express can be challenging. Tickets are sold rampantly on the black market, mainly through WhatsApp and Telegram. Besides, passengers have been complaining that Tatkal tickets are being booked via chatbots that run on AI technology. The authorities decided to revive the website and made Aadhaar mandatory to solve these grievances. A passenger who has a registered ID in IRCTC can reserve up to six tickets in a month through the website or app. However, agents reserve 50 – 60 tickets a day using multiple IDs.

RPF had recently arrested nine agents in Bengaluru for selling train tickets on the black market. These agents had been operating with KSR Majestic Station as their base. The computers and mobile phones used to book Tatkal tickets were also seized by the RPF team.