Amid use of fake documents, TTEs will soon authenticate passengers' Aadhaar cards

AFTER announcing that Aadhaar linkage with IRCTC accounts will be made mandatory for Tatkal train ticket bookings, the Railway Board last week directed Travelling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) to use UIDAI's mAadhaar mobile app to check the Aadhaar credentials of passengers and vendors on a random basis.

- ANBUSELVAN B @Chennai

A directive to this effect was issued by Praveen Kumar, director, Passenger Marketing (Coordination), Railway Board, to Principal Chief Commercial Manager of Southern Railway and other zones on June 5.

The mAadhaar application enables TTEs to verify Aadhaar details by scanning the QR code on the Aadhaar document.

"TTEs can install the mAadhaar app on their mobile phones. It will also soon be integrated into the handheld devices (HHD) used by TTEs," the order stated.

Officials noted that even when passengers present Aadhaar copies for checking, there's a high likelihood that some may be forged, especially those created by travel agencies. While TTEs routinely check identity documents, they often do not verify the authenticity of Aadhaar cards.

The Indian Railways has been facing an overwhelming demand for tickets nationwide, driven not only by the relative affordability and safety of train travel but also due to the limited availability of alternative transport options for long-distance routes.