The Railways Ministry has clarified that IRCTC account holders can book e-tickets for other people having different surnames, thus debunking claims online about existing restrictions due to different surnames.
According to the Indian Railways, tickets can be booked using one’s personal User ID for friends, family, and relatives.
What did the Railway Ministry say?
In response to posts on X saying an IRCTC account holder cannot book tickets for others having different surnames, a ministry spokesperson said the news circulating online regarding the restriction is “false and misleading”. The spokesperson also mentioned that tickets are booked on the IRCTC website following Railway Board guidelines, which are readily accessible in the public domain.
According to the spokesperson, individuals can book up to 12 tickets per month from their account. If the account-holder is Aadhar-authenticated, they can book 24 tickets per month, provided at least one traveller on each ticket is also Aadhar-authenticated.
“Tickets booked on personal user IDs are not meant for commercial sale and such an act is an offence under section 143 of Railways Act, 1989,” the spokesperson added.
Latest update from Railways
Recently, Northern Railway announced the operation of summer special trains to various destinations. According to the notification issued, these special trains are being run for the convenience of rail passengers and to manage extra rush during this period.
The specific trains mentioned in the notification include:
Mumbai CSMT – Sitapur – Mumbai CSMT Special train
Saharsa – Sirhind – Saharsa Weekly Express Special
Darbhanga – Sirhind – Darbhanga Express Special
Darbhanga – Sirhind – Darbhanga Summer Special
Saharsa – Sirhind – Saharsa Express Special
(With PTI inputs)