Railways will hold discussion with UIDAI for
linking Aadhaar number with booking of concessional tickets to prevent misuse of
subsidy facility by unscrupulous elements.
The Finance Ministry has asked various
ministries including the Railways to identify areas where Aadhaar-based
verification can be applied before doling out subsidies, a senior Railway
Ministry official said.
With the successful linking of Aadhaar cards
with LPG service and passport service, the government has now shifted its focus
on railway ticketing and booking.
In railways, people in various categories
including senior citizens, patients, eminent artists and sportspersons are
eligible for availing concessional fare facilities.
"We are exploring how to link the ticketing
system with Aadhaar so that it can be verified before booking concessional
tickets," said the official.
He said railway is writing to Unique
Identification Authority of India to know the details of Aadhaar-based system
and how it can be linked with the passenger reservation system.
CRIS, railways technology arm, will hold
threadbare discussions with UIDAI to find out way forward for making it possible
in the national transporter.
However, he said though the Aadhaar-based
booking system will prevent touts using fake names and IDs and the concessions
will be availed by the genuine persons, it will slowdown the system.
"Currently, we are booking about 15,000 tickets
in a minute. Once the system is linked with Aadhaar, it will take some time to
verify and as a result the ticket delivery process will be delayed," he
added.
He further said railways has its own
verification system as before giving tickets and also on board checkings are
being conducted by authorities concerned.
Source : The Economic Times
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