Aadhaar card to be mandatory for booking online train ticket

From April 1, senior citizens will have to produce their Aadhaar card to avail concessions. To give a push to cashless transactions integrated ticketing app will be launched by May.

Indian railways to prevent fraudulent bookings, touts from blocking tickets, and reduce impersonation cases is planning to introduce Aadhaar-based online ticket booking system. Recently, the railways announced its business plan for the year 2017-18 and confirmed that it is working on integrating Aadhaar card data on the online booking system.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu unveiled this plan that also shows that railways is fast moving towards a cashless system of booking system by installing 6000 point-of-sale machines as well as 1000 automatic ticket vending machines across India. Also, an integrated ticketing app will be launched by May to further give a push to the cashless transaction. 

Aadhaar card has already been made mandatory for senior citizens for availing concessions in tickets from April 1, and its three-month trial run is already in the process.  

"Aadhaar number will be required for one-time registration at the IRCTC ticketing site. The step is aimed at eliminating touts from registering with fake identities," a senior railway ministry official said, adding the railways is preparing a software for the purpose.

The new business plan also envisages launching of new tourist trains connecting hill stations and enhancing passenger comfort and providing pleasurable journey experience through improving amenities and catering service.