IRCTC Could Soon Make Online Signup Process Tougher To Rein In Fraudulent Ticket Booking 

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), in order to check fraudulent ticket booking, will soon be making it tougher to signup on its website, Zee News has reported.

Nearly six lakh people book their tickets through IRCTC website. Sixty per cent of all reserved tickets of the Indian Railways are booked through IRCTC.

As per the report, thousands of fake user identities (IDs) are being made by ticketing agents for booking e-tickets on the website of IRCTC.

Railways officials are of the opinion that fake names are being used by these agents to register on IRCTC website. Apps on google are also being used by these agents to book Tatkal tickets, which are sold later to others for a higher price.

Fake ticket booking is only one of IRCTC’s concerns. Inputs from agencies involved in security and intelligence of railway have pointed towards loopholes in the IRCTC system. In the wake of these inputs, Indian Railways is preparing for further strengthening of its system.

According to the report, IRCTC, instead of just a user ID, password and mobile number, may propose asking an additional ID proof like driving licence, voter card et al to verify the user.

However, experts have expressed their doubts about the proposal as uploading of additional documents for establishing user identity may make the web page heavy, resulting in slowing the site itself. They have suggested that the railways look for alternatives.