In the era of Digital India, where we’ve become accustomed to doing everything on our mobile phones, this new update from the Indian Railways may surprise you. Now, simply showing your ticket on your mobile screen while traveling on a train could prove costly. The Railways has taken a firm decision regarding unreserved tickets, under which mobile screenshots or photos will no longer be accepted.
In fact, the recent increase in cases of fake tickets created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) has alarmed the Railways. This strict measure has been taken to ensure transparency and strengthen security. In this article, we will explain in detail which passengers are now required to carry a hard copy and how the Railways have changed their checking methods.
Why is this strict rule needed
While technology makes our work easier, fraudsters are also exploiting it. The Railways have encountered numerous cases where cunning criminals have used AI tools to create fake tickets that look exactly like the original ones.
Railway officials believe that if this digital fraud is not stopped promptly, it could pose a significant threat to both security and revenue. Keeping this in mind, the ability to display unreserved tickets on mobile screens has been restricted. It was now difficult for TTEs to determine whether a ticket is genuine or has been edited using an app, simply by looking at the screen.
What is the new rule
According to the new railway guidelines, passengers will need to pay special attention to the format of their ticket according to their class. If you purchased an unreserved (or general) ticket through the UTS app, station ATM, or railway counter, simply displaying it on your mobile screen will no longer be considered valid. It is now mandatory for such passengers to carry a hard copy or printout of the ticket with them.
However, the railway has also clarified that the old rules will remain applicable for passengers who book confirmed reserved tickets through the IRCTC website or app. This means that passengers presenting e-tickets and m-tickets need not worry about this new rule, as their data can be easily matched with the charts available with the TTE.
A whole group was traveling on a single ticket
The reason for tightening the rules was a shocking incident on the Jaipur route that shook the entire system. During checking, some students were traveling using tickets on their mobile phones. At first glance, the tickets appeared to be genuine. They contained all the correct information, including the QR code, the travel details, and the fare.
But when a vigilant TC conducted a thorough investigation, the truth came out: the students had cleverly added the names of seven different passengers to a single unreserved ticket using an AI editing tool. This meant that seven people were traveling illegally using a digital copy of a single valid ticket.
Digital identification will be provided
Now, the Railways has upgraded its checking staff to a high-tech level to eradicate fraud. All TTEs and TCs have now been provided with a dedicated TTE app, allowing them to instantly verify any suspicious tickets. In case of suspicion, the app will scan the ticket’s QR code, allowing the railway’s main server to verify its authenticity.
In addition, the UTS number and the ticket’s unique color code will now be verified, making it immediately clear whether the ticket has been tampered with. The railways have also begun keeping a close watch on ticket touts and counterfeiters.
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