Indian railways mandates printed copy for unreserved tickets amid rising digital fraud

Indian Railways mandates printed copies for unreserved tickets, rejecting mobile displays, after AI fraud cases. E-tickets remain valid digitally

In a significant policy shift, the Indian Railways has announced that passengers holding unreserved tickets must now carry a printed copy, as mobile-based ticket displays will no longer be accepted. The move comes in response to growing concerns over digital fraud and misuse of technology, particularly involving artificial intelligence.

Officials revealed that the decision was prompted by recent incidents where fraudulent tickets were generated using AI tools. These fake tickets were designed to mimic genuine ones, complete with QR codes and fare details, making them difficult to detect during routine inspections. A case on the Jaipur route highlighted the severity of the issue when a group of students was found traveling with counterfeit mobile tickets that initially appeared authentic.

The new rule specifically applies to unreserved tickets purchased through the Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), or ticket counters. Passengers must now produce a physical printout of these tickets during verification. However, the regulation does not extend to e-tickets booked online or MT-CUT tickets, which remain valid in digital form.

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Railway authorities emphasized that the measure is aimed at safeguarding revenue and ensuring the integrity of the ticketing system. With technology evolving rapidly, officials believe stricter verification methods are necessary to prevent exploitation of loopholes. By mandating printed copies, the Railways hopes to eliminate the risk of AI-generated duplicates that could compromise passenger safety and financial accountability.

This update marks a decisive step by the Indian Railways to adapt to emerging challenges in the digital era. While the move may cause minor inconvenience to passengers accustomed to mobile ticketing, officials argue that the long-term benefits of fraud prevention and system reliability outweigh the drawbacks.

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