New Delhi, Mar 25 (TNT): Online railway ticket bookings through IRCTC have witnessed a sharp rise, crossing 48.25 crore in FY 2025–26 (up to February), accounting for about 88 per cent of total reserved ticket bookings.
The government on Wednesday said the surge reflects growing passenger preference for digital platforms, which save time and eliminate the need to visit reservation counters.
In a reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said 48.25 crore tickets were booked online during FY 2025–26 (up to February), compared to 6.15 crore through reservation counters.
He said the IRCTC platform has significantly improved passenger convenience, offering seamless booking while reducing travel time and associated costs.
He said the online ticketing system has significantly reduced the need for passengers to visit counters, with a nominal convenience fee charged to support maintenance and expansion of infrastructure.
To prevent misuse, Aadhaar authentication has been made mandatory for Tatkal bookings and for online bookings on the opening day of advance reservations, improving transparency and ensuring fair access to tickets.
IRCTC has also deployed anti-bot technology and content delivery networks to curb malicious traffic and enhance system performance, with around 64 per cent of suspicious attempts being blocked, he said.
The Union Minister said 3.04 crore user accounts were deactivated and 2.94 crore temporarily suspended in 2025 due to suspected misuse, while over 1.8 lakh accounts were reactivated after verification.
He said continuous monitoring and technological upgrades are being undertaken to curb fraudulent practices and improve the booking experience for genuine passengers.
TNT KS
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