India to enforce ID proof on trains

Indian authorities have decided to make it mandatory for passengers travelling in non-AC sleeper class on trains to carry identity proof as part of its efforts to check the widespread menace of  tickets sold by touts. The decision to enforce a valid I-card issued by the central or any state government for train passengers in non-AC reserved class is being finalised and likely to be announced shortly, a senior railway ministry official said. “This is being done to strengthen measures to keep a check on passengers travelling on transferred tickets,” the official said. Since February, AC class passengers are bound to carry identity proof with them. “The policy ambit is being widened now so that every passenger in reserved class onboard a train has a valid identity card,” the official said. Once the decision is announced, passengers failing to produce original identity proof will be treated as “without ticket” and fined. The rule will apply for all sorts of tickets, including those for sleeper class, issued at railway counters or purchased on Internet. The move is to deter touts from booking tickets on fictitious names and selling the same to passengers at a premium price, the official said. Passengers can carry any of these nine ID proofs while undertaking train journey: Voter ID card, passport, PAN card, driving licence, photo identity card having serial number issued by central/state government, student identity card with photograph issued by recognised school/college, Aadhar card, nationalised bank passbook with photograph and credit cards issued by banks with laminated photograph. From: Arabnews