Did Railways delete 3 crore fake IRCTC accounts to ensure fair ticket booking?

The Indian Railways has removed more than three crore fake user accounts from the IRCTC platform as part of a crackdown on ticket touting, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Speaking during Question Hour, the minister said the move is aimed at ensuring that genuine passengers get fair access to train tickets, addressing long-standing concerns over agents and bots blocking bookings.

Vaishnaw highlighted that the government is focused on making rail travel both affordable and accessible. He noted that around 78 per cent of seats in trains fall under non-AC categories, while nearly 70 per cent of coaches are general and sleeper class, reflecting a continued emphasis on budget-friendly travel.

To tackle overcrowding, especially during peak travel periods, the Railways has operated over 75,000 special trains in the current financial year. The minister said this number is higher compared to previous administrations, indicating an expanded effort to manage rising passenger demand.

On the safety front, Vaishnaw stated that focused interventions have led to a sharp decline in railway accidents. Consequential accidents have reduced by nearly 90 per cent, signalling improvements in operational safety measures.

The issue of overcrowding in long-distance trains was a key topic during the session, with the government outlining multiple steps taken to enhance passenger experience and streamline ticketing.