Lok Sabha Question No. 3068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-16
Subject: Change in Refund Rules
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: P.P. CHAUDHARY, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI, GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3068 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2016

## CHANGE IN REFUND RULES

3068. SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA: SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI: SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  rules  regarding  refund  of  booking  amount  have  been changed;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  the amount earned by the Railways from passengers who do not claim  or  file  for  refund  or  TDR  for  journeys  that  they  do  not undertake during the last three years, zone and year-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

( SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.3068  BY  SHRI  P.P.  CHAUDHARY,  SHRI NARANBHAI  KACHHADIYA,  SHRI  DILIPKUMAR  MANSUKHLAL  GANDHI AND  SHRI  GAJENDRA  SINGH  SHEKHAWAT  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK SABHA ON 16.03.2016 REGARDING CHANGE IN REFUND RULES

(a)&(b):  Yes,  Madam.  Cancellation  charges/clerkage  charges  have  been revised w.e.f. 12.11.2015 as under:-

| Sl No.   | Pre-revised                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | W.e.f. 12.11.2015                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Clerkage charges                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | Clerkage charges                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 2.       | Levy of clerkage per passenger for cancellation of unreserved, RAC and waitlisted tickets was as under:- (i) Unreserved (second class): ` 15. (ii)Second class (reserved) and other classes: ` 30.                               | Levy of clerkage per passenger for cancellation of unreserved, RAC and waitlisted tickets are as under:- (i) Unreserved (second class): ` 30. (ii) Second class (reserved) and other classes: ` 60.                                |
|          | Refund of fare on unused Confirmed (Reserved) tickets                                                                                                                                                                            | Refund of fare on unused Confirmed (Reserved) tickets                                                                                                                                                                              |
| (i)      | 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, minimum cancellation charge was levied as under:- 1stAC/executive class: ` 120 2AC/1st class: ` 100 3AC/ACC/3A economy: ` 90 Second sleeper class: ` 60 Second class: ` 30 | 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, minimum cancellation charge is levied as under:- 1st AC/executive class: ` 240 2AC/1st class: ` 200 3AC/ACC/3A economy: ` 180 Second sleeper class: ` 120 Second class: ` 60 |
| (ii)     | Between 48 hours and 6 hours before the scheduled departure of the train cancellation charge was 25% of the fare subject to minimum charge as per (i) above.                                                                     | Between 48 hours and 12 hours before the scheduled departure of the train cancellation charge is 25% of the fare subject to minimum charge as per (i) above.                                                                       |

******

above

| (iii)   | Between 6 hours before the scheduled departure of the train and upto 2 hours after the actual departure of the train, cancellation charge was 50% subject to minimum charge as per (i) above.   | Between 12 hours and 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train cancellation charge is 50% subject to minimum charge as per (i) above.                          |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (iv)    | No refund after the above time limit was permissible.                                                                                                                                           | No refund after the above time limit is permissible.                                                                                                                     |
| 3.      | Refund on unused RAC/Waitlisted/Partially confirmed tickets                                                                                                                                     | Refund on unused RAC/Waitlisted/Partially confirmed tickets                                                                                                              |
| (i)     | If Partially confirmed tickets was presented for cancellation upto two hours after the actual departure of the train, full refund minus clerkage charge was refunded.                           | If Partially confirmed ticket is presented for cancellation upto half an hour before the scheduled departure of the train full refund minus clerkage charge is refunded. |
| (ii)    | If RAC/Waitlisted tickets was presented for cancellation upto three hours after the actual departure of the train, full refund minus clerkage charge was refunded.                              | If RAC/Waitlisted tickets is presented for cancellation upto half an hour before the scheduled departure of the train full refund minus clerkage charge is refunded.     |

Clerkage and cancellation charge are levied to cover the cost of service for  issuing  &  cancellation  of  tickets  which  include  cost  of  staff,  heavy investment for providing booking/cancellation facility through internet and providing PRS counters even at smaller stations, maintenance cost of the systems  etc.,  This  also  disincentivizes  speculative  bookings.  Moreover increase  in  clerkage  and  cancellation  charges  has  no  effect  on  all  the passengers  and  applies  only  to  the  passenger  who  want  to  cancel  the ticket.

- (c)  No such data is maintained.