Overview
- Only IRCTC website and app bookings are affected during the initial window, while reservation counter timings remain unchanged.
- Authorised agents remain barred for the first 10 minutes of opening-day general reservations, with access permitted after the Aadhaar-only window lapses.
- CRIS and IRCTC have been directed to implement system changes and run outreach so passengers can link Aadhaar before enforcement begins.
- The policy extends earlier steps applied to Tatkal bookings from July 1, including Aadhaar/OTP checks and strengthened anti-bot monitoring.
- Railways cites 5,796 arrests, Rs 12.2 crore in seized tickets, and deactivation of roughly 2.5 crore suspicious IDs, as some stakeholders argue capacity constraints are the core issue.