Title - I-D card must for rail travel

The railway ministry has made it mandatory for passengers of the sleeper (SL), the reserved second class (2S), and 3E (Economy AC of Durontos) class to carry an identity proof. The new provision will come into effect from December 1. Currently, only passengers travelling on tatkal tickets, e-tickets and AC tickets issued from passenger reservation system were required to carry their identity proofs.

According to the ministry, the government came across instances of unlawful activities such as agents getting tickets issued under fake names and selling these to passengers at exorbitant rates. During festive seasons, such activities reach their peak, resulting in the misuse of the reserved ticketing system.

The m ove is aimed at stopping unlawful agents from using the left over seats from different quotas to make current reservations at the last minute after the seat chart is prepared. An agent said on condition of anonymity, "During the festive season, such tickets are sold at seven to eight times the actual cost." So, a sleeper class ticket from Delhi to Patna will cost about Rs 2,600 when its actual cost is Rs360.

The ministry has also decided to expand the list of prescribed proofs of identity to include photo identity cards having serial numbers issued by public sector undertakings of state/central government, district administrations, municipal administrations and panchayats.