New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS): In order to check Tatkal tickets being cornered by touts at the booking counters, the Indian railways Thursday restricted the number of tickets per individual to two between 8.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m.

Among the other steps taken by the ministry to curb the activity of touts at around 10,000 ticket booking counters across the country, the railways has also decided to stop the Quick Book Option and cash card booking between 8.00 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Already there is a ban on booking of tickets by travel agents in this period.

"There has been concern over passengers suffering as touts used to corner the Tatkal tickets as soon as the booking counters opened for the day. These measures will help check the menace," said a senior railway official.

The steps, officials said, have been taken with a view to reducing chances of misuse of e-ticketing facility being offered by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.

The IRCTC also offers cash cards through its agents to facilitate purchase of tickets by the passengers.

Earlier, in February 2011, the railways had introduced the provision of carrying identity proof by any one of the passengers travelling on a Tatkal ticket. It also stopped the facility of name change on such tickets.

Though checks are conducted at railway booking counters by senior officials, sources said the network of touts is widely prevalent at smaller junctions.