Lok Sabha Question No. 1656 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-04
Subject: Change in Rules for Cancellation of Tickets
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1656

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.05.2016

## CHANGE IN RULES FOR CANCELLATION OF TICKETS

†1656.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is aware of the difficulties being faced by the passengers due to change of rules regarding cancellation of railway tickets under which refund of money can only be made upto four hours before the departure of train and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the Government has received any complaints/suggestions in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  facilitate  cancellation  of tickets  online  of  those  passengers  who  purchased  ticket  from counter and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government also proposes to make provision of any new system for cancellation of tickets and getting refund; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

ANSWER ( SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(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.1656 BY SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  04.05.2016  REGARDING  CHANGE  IN RULES FOR CANCELLATION OF TICKETS

(a):  There  is  no  difficulty/inconvenience  to  passengers  if  the  ticket  is cancelled within  the prescribed time limit as under:-

- (i)  Confirmed  tickets:  Upto  4  hours  before  the  scheduled  departure  of the train.
- (ii) Reservation against cancellation(RAC)/Waitlisted/Partially confirmed tickets: Upto half an hour before the scheduled departure of the train.
- (b): Representations/suggestions including from some Hon'ble Members of Parliament have been received on restoration of old refund rules. The matter has been examined but not found feasible.
- (c)  to  (e):  W.e.f.  29.04.2016,  the  passengers  having  confirmed  PRS counter  tickets  may  also  cancel  the  same  through  IRCTC  website (www.irctc.co.in)  or  through  139  within  the  prescribed  time  limit subject to the following conditions:-
-  Cancellation of tickets and refund of fare is permitted only on fully confirmed PRS counter tickets in normal circumstances only and not in case of late running of trains/cancellation of trains etc.,
-  This facility is available only in case the mobile number has been given at the time of booking the ticket.
-  Online cancellation or cancellation through 139 shall be permitted only upto 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train.
-  Refund of fare amount is collected only at the journey commencing station or nearby satellite PRS locations defined by Zonal Railway as under:-

- (i)  During first two hours of the opening of PRS counters on the next day for the tickets for the trains whose scheduled departure time is (i) between 1801 hours and 0600 hours.
- (ii) Upto 4 hours after the scheduled departure of the train during the  working  hours  of  PRS      counters/current  counters/special counters where cancellation is permitted round the clock on the tickets  for  the  trains  whose  scheduled  departure  time  is  (i) between 0601 hours and 1800 hours.
- (iii)  No  refund  of  amount  would  be  given  after  the  above mentioned prescribed time limit.

Apart  from  the  above,  in  order  to  facilitate  cancellation  of  PRS counter tickets at relatively smaller stations, one of the UTS cum PRS counters (wherever PRS booking facility is available) has been earmarked  for  granting  refund  beyond  the  working  hours  of  PRS counters/Current  counters.  This  facility  is  available  in  respect  of  PRS counter  tickets  for  those  trains  whose  scheduled  departure  time  is within the next 24 hours.

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