Showing tickets on your mobile phone is no longer enough; Indian Railways has changed this rule

Under this new rule, traveling with only a ticket displayed on a mobile screen will not be valid in all situations. The railway authorities state that this decision has been taken to ensure passenger safety and maintain the integrity of the ticketing system.

In today's digital age, most tasks are done using mobile phones. From ticket booking to payments, everything has gone online. But now, Indian Railways has made an important change for passengers. Under this new rule, traveling with only a ticket displayed on a mobile screen will not be valid in all situations. The railway authorities say this decision has been taken to ensure passenger safety and maintain transparency in the ticketing system.

Why was this railway rule changed?

Recently, the railway authorities have seen a rapid increase in cases of fake tickets and fraud. Cases of creating fake tickets using Artificial Intelligence (AI) have come to light. While AI makes work easier on one hand, its misuse is creating new kinds of problems on the other. The railway authorities felt that if strict measures were not taken in time, this problem could become even more serious.

What is the new rule?

According to the new rule, unreserved tickets purchased through the UTS app, ATVMs, or railway counters will not be considered valid if only shown on a mobile screen. Such passengers will be required to carry a printed copy (hard copy) of their ticket. However, the railway authorities have also clarified that e-tickets and m-tickets (such as reserved tickets) will not be covered under this rule; these tickets can still be shown on mobile phones as before.

A shocking case of 7 passengers on one ticket

A major incident led to the tightening of this rule. This incident occurred on the Jaipur route. During an inspection, some students were traveling by showing tickets on their mobile phones. At first glance, the ticket looked completely genuine. It had a QR code, complete travel details, and the fare also appeared correct. But when the ticket collector (TC) examined the ticket more closely, the truth came out. Students used an AI tool to edit a single unreserved ticket and added the names of seven passengers to it. This meant seven people were traveling on a single ticket.

Railways launch strict investigation

Following this incident, the railways have issued an alert to all divisions. TTEs (Traveling Ticket Examiners) and TCs (Ticket Collectors) are now being provided with a special TTE app. If there is any suspicion, the QR code will be scanned. The UTS number and color code will also be checked. These methods will immediately reveal whether the ticket is genuine or fake. Railway officials have clearly stated that it is mandatory to carry a hard copy of the unreserved ticket; showing the ticket only on a mobile screen may cause problems. A close watch is also being kept on ticket touts and those selling fake tickets.