Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has refuted claims circulating on social media regarding restrictions on booking train tickets for individuals with different surnames. In a statement, IRCTC clarified that the information claiming penalties of up to Rs 10,000 or imprisonment for booking tickets for non-blood relatives with different surnames is false and misleading.
“The news in circulation on social media about restrictions in the booking of e-tickets due to different surnames is false and misleading,” IRCTC stated. The corporation emphasized that individuals can book tickets using their personal User IDs for friends, family, and relatives without any such restrictions. It further reiterated that bookings made under personal User IDs are not intended for commercial purposes, as stipulated under Section 143 of the Railways Act, 1989.
IRCTC encouraged the public to refrain from spreading misinformation and assured that ticket bookings through their platform adhere to Railway Board guidelines, which are publicly accessible for verification.
Board Guidelines and required information are available on the public domain as under:
1. One can book tickets on personal User ID for friends, family, and relatives.
2. Booking can be done for up to 12 tickets per month which in case of Aadhaar-authenticated users can go up to 24 tickets per month, if one of the passengers on a ticket is also aadhar authenticated.
3. Tickets booked on personal User IDs are not meant for commercial sale and such an act is an offense under section 143 of Railways Act 1989.