Lok Sabha Question No. 285 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Aadhaar Based Online Ticketing System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## AADHAAR BASED ONLINE TICKETING SYSTEM

*285. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Railways proposes to move towards Aadhaar based online ticketing system and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the aims and objectives behind the move and the time by which this is likely to be made effective;

(c)  whether Aadhaar number has been made mandatory for senior citizens to avail concessions in train tickets from April, 2017 and if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  the  Railways  has  also  decided  to  move  towards cashless ticketing system and if so, the details thereof; and

(e)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  cashless transaction in the Railways?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  285  BY  SHRIMATI  SUPRIYA  SULE  AND SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 22.03.2017  REGARDING  AADHAAR  BASED  ONLINE  TICKETING SYSTEM

(a)  &  (b):  Railway  has  initiated  a  process  to  create  a  database  of senior citizens through pre-verification of senior citizens based on Aadhaar details on voluntary basis with effect from 01.01.2017. The system is intended to ensure that the senior citizen concession is not  misused  by  unscrupulous  elements  by  giving  fictitious  names and to use the data for decision making.

(c): No, Madam.

(d) & (e): With a view to promote cashless ticketing system, various initiatives have  been  taken  by  Indian Railways  including the following:-

## I. Booking of reserved tickets:

The  facility  of  online  booking  of  reserved  ticket  has  been provided through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)  website.  The  payment  for  tickets  booked  through  IRCTC website  is  made  through  various  cashless  modes  such  as  net banking, through credit/debit cards, cash cards and e-wallets.

## II. Booking of unreserved tickets:

The  facility  of  booking  unreserved  ticket  including  journey, season  and  platform tickets through  mobile  phone  has  been introduced in all suburban sections of Central, Western, Southern, Eastern,  South  Central,  South  Eastern  and  Delhi-Palwal  section  of Northern  Railway.    Additional  payment  options  under  the  digital

Contd..2/-

modes  have  also  been  introduced  to  widen  the  scope  of  digital payments for purchase of unreserved tickets.

Further,  facility  of  renewal  of  season  tickets  through  IRCTC website has been provided for suburban train services on Western and Central Railways wherein payment is made through electronic mode.

## Digital Initiatives:

With a view to further promoting cashless transactions on Indian Railways, following initiatives have been taken:

- i. It  has  been  decided  to  install  10,000  Point  of  Sale  (POS) machines  in  association  with  State  Bank  of  India  at  various locations of Indian Railways i.e. PRS locations, UTS locations, Parcel/Goods  locations.  At  present,  more  than  4000  POS machines have been installed over the Zonal Railways.
- ii. An  advanced  Beta  version  of  the  mobile  application  for booking of reserved tickets has also been launched by IRCTC giving additional options of cashless payment.
- iii. Service charge on online booking of tickets has been withdrawn for the tickets booked from 23.11.2016 to 31.03.2017.
4. Service charge applicable on transactions against credit/debit cards for purchasing journey tickets at Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS)/ Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters
- iv. has been withdrawn.

- v. Online booking facility for accredited press correspondents on the basis of registered ID card has been launched.
- vi. International  Credit/  Debit  cards  issued  outside  India  are accepted for booking of e-tickets through IRCTC website.
- vii. Free accidental insurance cover of upto ` 10 lakh for confirmed/RAC  passengers  in  case  of  tickets  booked  online from 10.12.2016 to 31.03.2017.
- viii. Provision  of  0.5%  discount  on  season  tickets  purchased through digital means with effect from 01.01.2017.
- ix. Provision of 5% discount on payment made online for availing services like online booking of retiring rooms with effect from 01.01.2017.
6. Catering  stalls  have  also  been  instructed  to  provide  options
- x. for making cashless payments.

Indian Railways is working on to provide Integrated Mobile App to replace multiple Railway mobile applications providing services related to ticketing, catering, retiring rooms etc.

## Transparency in ticket booking:

Further,  to  promote  transparency  in  ticket  booking  through digital means, following significant measures have been adopted:-

- i. Passengers  are  informed  about  change  in  their  reservation status in the case of Waiting list/RAC to confirmed, cancellation of trains through SMS.

- ii. In the case  of  cancellation of trains, refund is  granted automatically to e-ticket holders.
- iii. Automatic preparation of reservation  charts  at  least  4  hours before scheduled departure of train and thereafter booking of available accommodation through internet as well as through computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters.
- iv. A  provision  has  been  made  in  the  PRS  system  to  transfer vacant available accommodation after preparation of second reservation chart to next remote location.
- v. Facility of cancellation of  confirmed/RAC/ waitlisted  PRS counter  tickets  through  IRCTC  website  (www.irctc.co.in)  or through 139 has also been introduced.
- vi. With a view to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers and also to ensure optimal utilization of available accommodation,  the  Alternate  Train  Accomodation  Scheme (ATAS) known as VIKALP has been introduced. This scheme is being expanded to cover all types of trains on all sectors from April, 2017.

## Steps taken to curb touting:

Following  steps  have  also  been  taken  to  ensure  availability  of tickets to genuine passengers and to avoid touting activities:-

- i. Restriction on agents on booking of tickets during first thirty minutes  of opening  of advance  reservation  period (ARP) booking and Tatkal booking.

- ii. Provision of CAPTCHA in the booking page of e-ticket/i-ticket on  the  IRCTC  website  to  check  use  of  scripting  tools  by unscrupulous elements for cornering of tickets.
- iii. A time check of 35 seconds for completion of online booking of tickets has been introduced to avoid misuse through use of scripting software.
- iv. One  Time  Password  (OTP)  has  been  made  mandatory  for payment of tickets booked online.
- v. Only one booking in one user login session except for return/ onward journey between 0800 and 1200 hours.
- vi. Modification  of  Railway  Passengers  (Cancellation  of  Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules to discourage speculative booking of tickets.
- vii. Condition  of carrying of original proof of identity during journey by any one of the passenger booked on the ticket.
- viii. Conducting of regular and surprise checks by Security, Vigilance and Commercial Departments.
8. ix.
9. Provision of CCTVs at important PRS locations.

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