Lok Sabha Question No. 2934 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Inconvenience due to New Ticketing Rules
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2934 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## INCONVENIENCE DUE TO NEW TICKETING RULES

2934.  SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)    whether the Government is aware of the fact that the revised rules for reservation and cancellation of train tickets have caused much difficulties and if so, the action taken by the Government to resolve this issue; (b)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  discourage  refund  of unused tickets due to the non-confirmation of seats and if not, the reasons for limiting the time for refund of unused tickets; (c)  the details of revenue earned by the Railways due to reduction of the time limit for refund of unused tickets after implementation of revised rules; (d)  whether the Government has sought opinion of the Law Ministry for implementation of rules which lead to non-refund of amount paid for reservation of tickets and if so, the details thereof; and (e)  whether the Government proposes to amend the rules so as to protect the interests of unused railway tickets holders due to the non-confirmation of seats/berths and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  To  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2934 BY SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.08.2016 REGARDING INCONVENIENCE DUE TO NEW TICKETING RULES

(a)&(b): There is no inconvenience to  passengers if tickets are cancelled within the prescribed time limits as per Rule. The time limits for  cancellation  of  tickets  have  been  rationalised  to  check  bogus claims,  catalyse  Mobile  ticketing  (PRS  tickets)  as  well  as  paperless ticketing, discourage last minute cancellations resulting in seats/berths going vacant.

To  facilitate  the  passengers  having    PRS  counter  tickets  and wanting to cancel the same, it has been decided that subject to certain condition such passenger may cancel the ticket through IRCTC website or through 139 within the prescribed time limit as per Refund Rule and permissible  refund  amount  may  be  collected  across  the  reservation counter as under:-

(i).  For  tickets  cancelled  before  24  hours  of  the  scheduled  train departure: Refund of fare as permissible can be collected on submission of original PRS counter tickets from any PRS counter of the Indian  Railways  upto  4  hours  before  the  scheduled  departure  of  the train  in  case  of  confirmed  tickets  and  upto  thirty  minutes  before  the scheduled departure of the train in case of RAC/Waitlisted tickets.

(ii).  For  tickets  cancelled  between  24  hours  and  upto  4  hours  for  the confirmed tickets and upto thirty minutes before the scheduled departure time: Refund of fare as permissible can be collected only at the journey commencing  station  or  nearby  satellite locations on surrendering of original PRS counter tickets defined by Zonal Railways (i) during first two hours of the opening of PRS counters on the next day

for  tickets  for  the  trains  whose  scheduled  departure  time  is  between 1801  hours  and  0600  hours  (ii)  upto  4  hours  after  the  scheduled departure of the train during the working hours of PRS counter/current counters/special  counters  where  cancellation  is  permitted  round  the clock on the tickets for the trains whose scheduled departure time is between 0601 hours and 1800 hours.

Also,  PRS  counter  tickets  are  cancelled  at  relatively  smaller  stations wherever PRS booking facility is available throughout the day and for granting  refunds  beyond  the  working  hours  of  PRS  counters/current counters.

(c): The passengers who want to cancel the ticket can easily cancel the same within the revised prescribed time limit as per Refund Rule and permissible refund may be collected. Therefore, in view of this due to change in the time limit for cancellation of ticket no earning is involved.

(d):  Yes,  Madam.  Railway  Passengers  (Cancellation  of  tickets  and refund  of  fare)  Rules,  2015  duly  vetted  by  Ministry  of  Law  have  been notified through gazette notifications no. G.S.R.836 (E) dated 04.11.2015.

(e): At present, there is no such proposal.

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