New Delhi: Indian Railways is continuously undertaking new initiatives to provide passengers with a better and more memorable travel experience. As part of this effort, passengers traveling on Vande Bharat trains will now have the opportunity to sample local cuisine from the region they are traveling through. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared details of this plan during a review meeting with officials at Rail Bhavan. He stated that this will not only provide passengers with a comfortable journey but will also allow them to connect with the culture and cuisine of the area.
Local Food to be Available on Vande Bharat Trains
The Railway Minister announced that local food options will be introduced on Vande Bharat trains. For example, if the train is traveling through South India, passengers will be served traditional dishes from that region, while on North Indian routes, local flavors will be offered. This scheme will initially be implemented on Vande Bharat trains, and if successful, it will be extended to other trains in a phased manner.
Railways Cracks Down on Fake Ticket Bookings
The Railways has taken strict measures against fake ticket bookings to make the ticket booking system transparent and easier for genuine passengers. The Railway Minister stated that due to fake and suspicious user IDs, genuine passengers were unable to get Tatkal ( เคคเคคเฅเคเคพเคฒ – emergency) tickets. A stringent system has now been implemented to address this problem.
3.03 Crore Fake Accounts Closed
Indian Railways and IRCTC have so far closed 3.03 crore fake accounts. In addition, 2.7 crore user IDs have been temporarily suspended due to suspicious activities. After rigorous verification, only about 5,000 new user accounts are being created daily on the IRCTC website, whereas previously this number reached up to one lakh.
Aadhaar-Based OTP System Implemented
To prevent fake bookings, the Railways has implemented an Aadhaar-based OTP system. This system has already been introduced in 322 trains, increasing the chances of Tatkal ticket confirmation by approximately 65%. This system has also been implemented at reservation counters for 211 trains. Anti-bot technology yields improved results
The Railway Minister stated that anti-bot technology like Akamai is being used, which makes it easier to identify fake users. This has made the ticket booking process easier, safer, and smoother for genuine passengers. These steps taken by the railways are now providing passengers with better facilities and a fairer ticketing system.
