Lok Sabha Question No. 4056 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Cancellation of Tickets
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: LALLU SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4056 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

## CANCELLATION OF TICKETS

† 4056.  SHRI LALLU SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  refund  cannot  be  taken  on  the  cancellation  of confirm  tickets  if  less  than  4  hours  are  left  for  departure  of  the

train; (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  passengers  who  could  not  travel  on confirm tickets after the introduction of this scheme and whether reservation  for  other  passengers  are  made  against  such  vacant berths seats; and (c) if so, the justification of the obligation of time limit of less than 4 hours when high end technology is available and the passengers in the waiting list are also there?

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

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  4056  BY  SHRI  LALLU  SINGH  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.08.2016 REGARDING CANCELLATION OF TICKETS

(a):  Yes, Madam.

- (b):  No such data is maintained. The berths falling vacant on account of non-turned up passengers are allotted to RAC passengers in the train as per prescribed guidelines.
- (c): With effect from 12.11.2015, certain provisions of Railway Passengers (Cancellation of tickets and refund of fare) Rules have been amended  and  comprehensive Railway Passengers (Cancellation of tickets  and  refund  of  fare)  Rules  2015  have  been  notified  through Gazette Notification G.S.R. 836(E). dated 04.11.2015.

The reasons for making the changes are to provide benefit to the passengers  as  well  as  check  misuse  of  refund  rules  by  unscrupulous elements as detailed below:

(A) Benefits to Passengers:

- (i) Passengers are able to know the final status of their ticket at least
- 4 hours in advance of the scheduled train departure time.
- (ii)  In  case there is no RAC/Waitlist in the train, the berths released due  to  cancellation  become  available  for  booking  to  passengers before the actual departure of the train through internet as well as on the PRS counters at the station.
- (iii) Passengers at enroute stations can get available accommodation through  the  system  even  after  departure  of  the  train  from  the originating station.
- (iv)  Automatic  refund  of  e-tickets  for  cancelled  trains  has  been provided without requirement for filing of ticket deposit receipt.

(v)  The revised rules will catalyse facility of Mobile ticketing (for PRS tickets) as well as issue of paperless tickets. (vi)  Touting  activities/speculative  booking  by  selling  of  berths  at  a premium at last minute to gullible passengers has been discouraged since no refund on confirmed ticket is permissible after four hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train. (B)  Benefits to Railway: (i)  Berths going vacant on account of last minute cancellations and after departure of the train are now eliminated. (ii) Vacant berths generated on account of cancellations are allotted through the system in a transparent manner. (iii) Bogus claims for refunds after travel get eliminated since refunds

- after departure of the train are not permissible.

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