Come December, ID proof must for train passengers

The Railways have made it mandatory for travellers of all reserved classes to carry identity proof. The decision will come into effect from December 1.

The ministry has also expanded the list to include a wide range of identification proofs.
This will apply to all reserved classes including Reserved Second Class (2S), Sleeper Class (SL), III Economy Class (3E) and First Class (FC). At the moment only passengers travelling on e-tickets, Tatkal tickets, AC classes, except in III Economy -3E class) are required to carry identity proof.

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 governments, district administrations, municipal administrations and panchayat administrations.

The expanded list of the prescribed proofs of identity for undertaking journey on Tatkal ticket and other reserved classes will now be as follows: Voter Photo Identity Card issued by Election Commission of India; Passport, PAN Card issued by Income Tax Department and Driving Licence issued by RTO.

Photo identity cards having serial number issued by Central/state governments include pension pay order (PPO), ration card with photographs, senior citizen cards, below poverty line (BPL) cards, ESI cards (with photograph) issued for taking treatment in ESI dispensaries, CGHS Cards (with photograph) issued to individual family members of Central government employees, student identity card with photograph issued by recognised school/colleges for their students, nationalised bank passbook with photographs, credit cards issued by banks with laminated photograph, unique identification card “Aadhaar” and photo identity cards having serial number issued by public sector undertakings of state/Central governments and district administrations.

The ministry has claimed that it will reduce scope of misuse of reserved ticketing system by middlemen.