Latest news with #PassengerNameRecords
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tatkal ticket scam: IRCTC deactivates 2.5 crore fake IDs in major crackdown
In a significant move to combat fraudulent activities, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has deactivated approximately 2.5 crore fake user IDs. This action follows an investigation into the rapid disappearance of Tatkal tickets, which revealed a large-scale misuse of the booking system by agents and bots. People have been complaining about this for quite some time, and have addressed their concerns on social media too. The scam Between January and May 2025, IRCTC identified around 2.9 lakh suspicious Passenger Name Records (PNRs) generated within just five minutes of the Tatkal booking window opening. These bookings were traced back to fake accounts created using disposable email addresses, enabling agents to hoard tickets and sell them at inflated prices. Read more: 10 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India and the animals they're famous for Since tickets are frequently sold out seconds after the booking window opens, legitimate passengers have been negatively impacted by the abuse of the Tatkal system. 73% of users were waitlisted in the first minute, according to a poll, which made many of them rely on agents to get confirmed tickets. IRCTC's response In response to the scam, IRCTC has implemented several measures: Deactivation of fake IDs : Approximately 2.5 crore fake user IDs have been deactivated, and an additional 20 lakh accounts are under review. Blocking disposable email domains : Over 6,800 disposable email domains used to create fake accounts have been blocked. Cybercrime complaints : IRCTC has filed 134 complaints with the National Cyber Crime Portal to address the issue legally. Technological advancements : To ensure a more equitable booking procedure, anti-bot software and collaborations with content delivery networks have been implemented to differentiate between automated scripts and human users. Read more: 6 most versatile Indian states that offer more variety than Europe Despite the fact that these steps have purportedly led to some advances, there is still a long way to go. According to sources, on May 22, 2025, a record 31,814 tickets were booked in a single minute, however issues still exist. The attempt-to-booking success ratio rose from 43.1% to 62.2% between October 2024 and May 2025. IRCTC continues to work towards enhancing the booking experience for genuine passengers, aiming to restore trust in the Tatkal system and ensure equitable access to train reservations. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
International flights unaffected, 9 domestic operations cancelled at Pune airport
In response to the heightened national alert status, the Pune International Airport has cancelled several flights and implemented safety and security protocols. The airport handles around 190 to 200 domestic flights daily and three international routes. Santosh Dhoke, director, Pune airport, said, 'While nine domestic flights were cancelled on Friday, the restrictions has not affected international operations.' According to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Pune, key among the new measures is the intensification of surveillance operations across all aviation-related installations within and around the airport premises. Passenger and cargo security has been significantly reinforced with thorough scrutiny of Passenger Name Records (PNR) and cargo manifests. 'For boarding, 100 per cent Secondary Ladder Point Checking (SLPC) has been made compulsory for all flights. There is also a marked increase in vehicle and personnel checks at airport approach roads, terminal entrances, and parking areas. Security at the cityside of the airport has been intensified through close coordination with police,' said Dhoke. 'Additional precautions are in place for cargo operations, including an increased percentage of explosive trace detection (ETD) checks for consignments and reinforced surveillance at cargo terminals,' he said, adding 'affected passengers are informed in advance through available channels, including airline partners, announcements, and digital platforms.'
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Indian Express
23 flights cancelled at Pune Airport in two days, security stepped up
Twenty-two flights at Pune airport were affected over the last two days due to suspension of operations at certain destination airports. On May 8, 13 flights of IndiGo and SpiceJet were affected. On May 9, nine IndiGo and SpiceJet flights were cancelled. In a statement, the airport said necessary communications have been made to all affected passengers through available channels, including airlines, announcements and digital platforms. It also said passengers affected by flight disruptions were attended to in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Options including full refunds or alternate flight arrangements were offered by the respective airlines, and airport teams were on ground to assist with other support. Increased security measures Pune airport has put in place additional security measures as a precautionary step to ensure safety of passengers, personnel and critical aviation infrastructure. In a press note, the airport authorities said surveillance across all aviation-related installations within and around the airport premises has been intensified. It added that scrutiny of Passenger Name Records (PNR) and cargo manifests had been increased. For secure boarding, Secondary Ladder Point Checking (SLPC) has been made compulsory for all flights. The airport said it had increased vehicle and personnel checks at airport approach roads, terminal entrances and parking areas. Security at the cityside of the airport has been intensified through close coordination with police. Passengers will be also subjected to random baggage checks before entering the terminal, while the baggage screening process through the In-Line Baggage Handling System (ILBHS) is now under heightened monitoring and supervision. Additional precautions are in place for cargo operations, including increased Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) checks for consignments and reinforced surveillance at cargo terminals. Passengers are advised to arrive at airports well ahead of the scheduled time to be able to complete the security check process in time. Flights affected May 9 IndiGo Amritsar-Pune 6E 6129 Chandigarh-Pune 6E 681 Pune-Chandigarh 6E 242 Pune-Amritsar 6E 721 Nagpur-Pune 6E 6659 Pune-Jodhpur 6E 133 Jodhpur-Pune 6E 414 SpiceJet Jaipur-Pune SG 1077 Pune-Bhavnagar SG 1077
