Alert, Mumbai local train users! WR, CR suspends QR code bookings via UTS app
Mumbai's suburban railways have suspended QR code ticket bookings on the UTSonmobile app after rampant misuse by passengers. From now, paperless tickets can only be purchased beyond 20 metres from stations and railway tracks to prevent fare evasion.
Mumbai: In a sweeping measure to curb ticketing fraud, Central Railway and Western Railway have suspended the use of QR code bookings on their UTSonmobile app after uncovering widespread misuse among Mumbai’s suburban commuters.
From now on, paperless mobile tickets can only be purchased beyond a geo-fencing limit of 20 metres from railway tracks and station premises. The decision follows months of complaints about loopholes that allowed passengers to evade fares until challenged by ticket examiners.
Multiple loopholes in QR based ticketing system
The problem first came to light in 2023 when railway staff discovered that static QR codes for every suburban station had been uploaded to an unauthorised website. Passengers could download or print these codes and generate tickets on the spot if questioned during inspections. Many carried photocopies of multiple station codes to avoid detection.
The loophole became especially problematic on air-conditioned local trains with interconnected coaches, where commuters could easily spot approaching inspectors. Using the readily available QR codes, they were able to purchase valid tickets within minutes, often escaping penalties.
The UTS app had originally been designed with safeguards, including GPS-based geo-fencing to ensure that tickets were booked only outside station premises and within two kilometres of the boarding point. It also restricted the reuse of stored QR code images. Yet passengers still found ways around the rules, often by scanning codes displayed on others’ phones.
Alternate solution? Dynamic QR codes which refresh automatically
Railway officials now believe that switching to dynamic QR codes, which refresh automatically at regular intervals, is the only viable long-term solution. Unlike static codes that can be copied and shared, dynamic ones would be harder to replicate, significantly reducing the risk of fraud.
The move has drawn mixed reactions. Many commuters who had grown accustomed to the convenience of scanning QR codes will now need to return to booking in advance or queueing at ticket counters. Others see the suspension as a necessary step to protect genuine travellers and safeguard railway revenue.