Central Railway has heightened its efforts to combat the misuse of the Foreign Tourist (FT) Quota after uncovering irregularities in ticket bookings involving domestic passengers. The issue was first identified on 4 February 2026 during a check on Train No. 12296, the Sanghamitra Express, where several Indian nationals were found using FT Quota tickets without possessing the required documentation.

A comprehensive review of FT Quota bookings for upcoming dates was subsequently initiated. This examination revealed a total of 174 original Passenger Name Records (PNRs) that had been issued under the FT Quota across 31 trains, covering the period from 24 April 2026 to 11 June 2026.

To verify the legitimacy of FT Quota ticket usage, ticket checking staff conducted special inspections. Through these efforts, 39 PNRs were identified as having been incorrectly booked under the FT Quota, resulting in 121 passengers being found to have travelled without proper authorisation.

Penalties Imposed and Further Actions Planned

As a consequence of these findings, the involved passengers were penalised according to existing regulations, leading to the recovery of Rs 3,56,916 as a penalty. The individuals were not permitted to occupy their allocated berths, which were then reallocated to passengers on the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) or on the waiting list.

Central Railway has since reached out to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to gather additional details regarding the participation of any authorised booking agents in these questionable transactions. An ongoing investigation is in place to pinpoint the individuals and organisations implicated in these unauthorised bookings within the FT Quota.

Booking tickets under an inappropriate quota constitutes an offence punishable under the Railway Act. To comply with regulations, passengers are expected to carry valid identification and documents that correspond with the ticket type under which they are travelling.

Public Awareness Initiatives Launched by Central Railway

In light of the recent developments, Central Railway has issued a call to action for passengers, encouraging them to report any suspicious activity to on-duty railway personnel or via the emergency contact number 139 or the Rail Madad app. This initiative aims to enhance safety and uphold regulatory compliance.

Moreover, passengers are urged to verify the authenticity and validity of their tickets prior to embarking on their journeys, ensuring that they are not inadvertently caught in similar infractions.

On a parallel note, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the Union Cabinet’s recent approval of railway projects that span 19 districts across six states, framing it as a pivotal step in enhancing India’s infrastructure and stimulating economic development. In a post on the platform ‘X’, he highlighted that the projects would improve connectivity and operational efficiencies, while also increasing access to various tourist attractions nationwide.

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