13,580 Touts And 65 Railway Employees Arrested
For passengers trying to book a Tatkal ticket, the few minutes after bookings open can be stressful. Seats disappear quickly, websites can get crowded and many travellers are left wondering how tickets sell out so fast. But according to data shared by the government, illegal ticketing networks are also a major concern.
Tatkal tickets are meant to help passengers make last-minute travel plans. But railway authorities say some touts have been exploiting the system by securing tickets and selling them illegally at higher prices. Over the past 3.5 years, 13,580 touts were arrested in cases linked to unauthorised ticketing.
The intense competition for Tatkal tickets may involve more than just high passenger demand. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Lok Sabha recently that authorities have uncovered illegal networks allegedly involved in misusing the reservation system and selling tickets outside the authorised process.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been conducting regular checks and special drives against ticket touts. These operations have resulted in thousands of arrests and legal action under the Railways Act, as Indian Railways works to prevent the misuse of passenger reservations.
The crackdown has also raised questions about possible insider involvement. Government data presented in Parliament shows that 65 railway employees were arrested in connection with alleged ticketing irregularities. Nine of these arrests were reported from Western Railway.
Indian Railways has been tightening checks to make Tatkal bookings more transparent and prevent unauthorised ticket sales. Action against touts, surprise inspections and monitoring of suspicious booking activity are among the measures being used to protect passengers and ensure that Tatkal tickets reach genuine travellers.
