Nagpur: As the summer travel season peaks and March draws to a close, securing a train ticket in Nagpur has turned into a near-impossible task for ordinary passengers. Within seconds of booking windows opening on IRCTC, tickets vanish, not into the hands of genuine travellers, but into the grip of a well-oiled, tech-driven black market racket.
An investigation has uncovered that illegal agents are using sophisticated, high-speed software to outsmart the system and corner bulk tickets instantly. While common users struggle to enter basic details, these agents deploy automated tools that flood the booking system with multiple requests at lightning speed, blocking seats in mere moments.
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Mar 24,2026 - Time 10.30Hrs
Sources reveal the operation is far from random, it is a coordinated network of tech-savvy operators who pre-store passenger data and use automated payment gateways to complete bookings in seconds. The result: Tickets that should cost Rs 500-Rs 600 are being resold for Rs 2,000 or more, turning public transport into a profit machine for touts.
Despite widespread complaints, helpless passengers, especially during peak vacation periods, festivals, and emergencies, are being forced to pay exorbitant rates. The illegal network is believed to be active across several parts of the city, including Sitabuldi, Itwari, Wardhaman Nagar, Nandanvan, Sadar, Lakadganj, Byramji Town, Gokulpeth, and even in nearby areas like Kamptee, Ramtek, and Butibori.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has acknowledged the growing menace and carried out multiple crackdowns. Raids have led to the arrest of agents and seizure of unauthorised software, computers, and bulk-booked tickets. However, officials admit the battle is far from over, as offenders quickly return with new tactics and upgraded tools.
Even as the railways continue to upgrade the booking system, curbing this software-driven black marketing remains a daunting challenge.
RPF cracks down, but racket persists
Deepchandra Arya, Commandant of RPF (South East Central Railway, Nagpur Division), said strict action is underway against ticket touts. In 2025 alone, 80 agents were booked under the Railway Act, while 16 cases have already been registered between January and March 22, 2026. He said that with the help of the railway cyber cell, advanced tools, and public cooperation, continuous raids are being conducted, urging passengers to report suspicious activities.
Manoj Kumar, Commandant of RPF (Central Railway, Nagpur Division), reiterated the force’s commitment to eliminating ticket black marketing. He said personnel have been placed on high alert during the summer rush, with intensified monitoring of illegal agents across both urban and rural areas.
Despite these efforts, the ground reality remains grim, for the common man, booking a train ticket has become less about timing and more about battling an invisible digital mafia.
