It seems you will soon not be able to book railway tickets online if you don't have the Aadhaar card. The Indian Railways is considering tweaking its system to book tickets online thus making Aadhaar card compulsory.
According to a PTI report, the change has reportedly been made to deter touts from blocking tickets in bulk and making fraudulent bookings.
Its also planning to launch an integrated ticketing app in May to promote cashless transaction.
"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," PTI quoted a senior Railway Ministry official as saying.
Last year in December, Indian Railways made the Aadhaar card mandatory for senior citizens to avail concessions in train tickets. This was to ensure that ticket concessions reach the right people. However, it may soon be a blanket rule for all citizens.
This comes even as the Supreme Court had earlier said that Aadhaar card should not be made mandatory for basic and essential services. Meanwhile, the government has been gradually adding to list a number of services where the card makes it easier to get service.
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