IRCTC has begun using an artificial intelligence-based monitoring system to identify suspected automated ticket bookings, with user IDs liable to be blocked when a booking form is submitted in less than four seconds, according to railway officials cited by Jagran. The system is intended to disrupt touts who use bots, automated software and pre-filled passenger data to secure confirmed seats before ordinary travellers can complete the process.
The measure comes as the railway administration faces increased pressure to manage passenger demand and prevent illegal ticket booking networks during the festive season. Touts allegedly create fake user accounts and use automated tools, data scraping and bots on the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation’s online platform.
According to the report, ordinary passengers generally need at least four to five seconds to enter passenger details, select preferences and reach the payment stage after the booking window opens. Touts, by contrast, can enter customer information into software in advance. When bookings open, the form may be submitted in less than a second, with even the CAPTCHA completed automatically.
Under the monitoring system, an application submitted in under four seconds can be classified as bot activity rather than human activity and trigger an immediate block. Accounts that repeatedly log in and log out at short intervals may also be placed in a suspicious category, the report said.
The system’s reported scale is substantial. Over the past year, 6.33 crore user IDs were suspended and 3.04 crore were cancelled because of suspected activity, according to figures attributed to officials. More than 500 cybercrime cases have also been registered in connection with such activity.
The enforcement mechanism may also affect legitimate passengers who use tools designed to speed up booking. Travellers have been advised to avoid copy-paste functions and auto-fill tools while entering passenger information, as well as repeated login attempts. Such activity could result in a temporary or permanent account block, the report said.
The issue reflects the growing contest between high-demand public transport systems and increasingly automated access to their booking platforms. For passengers, the immediate concern is not only whether a ticket is available but also whether a normal attempt to book quickly is mistaken for bot activity. IRCTC’s system is continuing to screen accounts and transactions for suspected automated behaviour, while railway authorities pursue action against ticket touting and related cybercrime.
