New Delhi, India – For millions of Indians, securing a Tatkal train ticket, which allows last-minute bookings, is often a race against time. But this race is increasingly being rigged by a sophisticated online black market. An investigation has revealed how organized groups are exploiting loopholes in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) system, making it nearly impossible for ordinary citizens to get a confirmed seat.
The Secret World of Ticket Touts
This illicit trade operates openly on popular messaging platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. More than 40 such groups have been identified, where a key commodity is sold: Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC user IDs. These IDs, crucial for booking Tatkal tickets, are reportedly sold for around ₹360 each. This practice directly contradicts government rules that require users to be verified by their Aadhaar identity for Tatkal bookings, a measure put in place to prevent such misuse.
Bots and Malware: The Tools of Deception
The speed at which these rackets operate is astonishing. They rely on advanced “bots” – automated software programs – and special browser extensions. These tools are designed to fill in all booking details, from login credentials and train information to passenger names and payment details, in less than a minute. This lightning-fast process overwhelms the IRCTC system, pushing genuine users out. To avoid being caught by IRCTC’s security systems, which often block suspicious internet addresses, these fraudsters use Virtual Private Servers (VPS), which hide their real locations.
Adding another layer of threat, some of these racket leaders also run websites where they sell these very bots. These software tools can cost anywhere from ₹999 to ₹5,000. A closer look at one such bot file revealed it to be a “Trojan” – a type of harmful software designed to secretly steal user information, posing a serious risk to anyone who might unknowingly download it.
The Cost to Genuine Travelers
The impact on honest travelers is profound. During the crucial first five minutes of Tatkal ticket opening, when demand is highest, the Ministry of Railways found that automated bot traffic accounted for as much as 50% of all login attempts. This massive digital interference means that half of the attempts to access the booking system are not from real people, but from automated programs aiming to snatch tickets. This leaves countless genuine passengers frustrated and unable to book tickets for urgent travel.
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Railways Fight Back
The Ministry of Railways has not been idle in the face of this challenge. To combat the racket, they have taken significant steps. Over 2.5 crore (25 million) fake user IDs have been identified and suspended from the IRCTC platform. Furthermore, a new rule has been put in place: railway agents are now completely banned from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes after they become available, for both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned categories. These measures aim to reduce the unfair advantage held by these illicit operators and create a more level playing field for everyone.