Ashwini Vaishnaw: 3 Crore Fake IRCTC Accounts Deleted; Focus on Affordable Travel

In a major crackdown on ticketing fraud and tout networks, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced that over three crore fake accounts have been removed from the IRCTC portal. Responding during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, the minister emphasized that the move is aimed at ensuring fair access to train tickets for genuine passengers, curbing illegal practices that have long plagued the reservation system. Crackdown on Touts, Relief for Passengers Vaishnaw stated that decisive steps have been taken to tackle ticket touts who exploit the system using fake IDs. “With the removal of these fake accounts, genuine passengers are now able to book tickets more easily,” he said. The development is expected to significantly improve transparency and accessibility in railway bookings, especially during peak travel seasons. Majority Seats Still Affordable Non-AC Highlighting the government’s focus on affordability, the minister revealed that: 78% of train seats are in non-AC categories Around 70% of coaches are general and sleeper class This ensures that Indian Railways continues to serve the vast majority of passengers who rely on economical travel options. Surge in Special Trains To tackle overcrowding, especially on long-distance routes, the Railways has ramped up operations: 75,000+ special trains have been run in the current financial year Higher deployment compared to previous administrations These efforts aim to ease congestion and provide additional capacity during festivals and peak travel periods. Safety Sees Major Improvement Vaishnaw also highlighted a 90% reduction in consequential railway accidents, attributing it to enhanced safety measures and infrastructure upgrades across the network. A Step Towards Cleaner, Fairer Rail Travel With a massive cleanup of fake accounts and continued focus on affordability, capacity, and safety, Indian Railways is positioning itself to deliver a more efficient and passenger-friendly travel experience.