In response to the recent Pahalgam attack, Indian Railways has announced a significant change in travel protocols. Starting now, passengers traveling with reserved tickets will be required to present valid identity documents during their journey. Previously, the verification process mainly involved comparing the passenger’s name on the ticket with the names listed for the seat or berth. However, under the new guidelines, more stringent measures will be enforced.
Passengers who purchase their tickets online must present both the original IRCTC or Railway message and a valid identity card to the ticket inspector. Similarly, those who buy their tickets at the station will also need to show their ID along with the reserved ticket. If a passenger fails to provide the required identification during the journey, they will be treated as a ticketless traveler, subject to a fine.
In such cases, passengers will be given a seat in exchange for the fine or will be moved to a general coach if the fine is paid. This policy aims to curb the potential misuse of online tickets, which has raised concerns due to security reasons. The Railways has made it clear that strict action will be taken against anyone found without proper identification.
