In a significant relief for railway passengers, Indian Railways has launched an online ticket cancellation facility for tickets bought at railway counters. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the initiative, emphasizing that passengers can now cancel their tickets without visiting the station. This measure is set to save time and effort for millions of train travelers nationwide.
On Friday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that passengers who purchased physical tickets from railway counters can now cancel them online via the IRCTC website or by calling 139. However, to receive a refund, passengers must still visit the reservation center.
The matter was raised by BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni, who questioned whether passengers holding waitlisted counter tickets, rather than e-tickets, are required to visit the station before the train’s departure to cancel their tickets, as reported by the media.
In a written response during a Rajya Sabha session, Minister Vaishnaw clarified, “A waitlisted PRS counter ticket will be canceled at the reservation counter when the original ticket is returned, subject to the time limits outlined in the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Tickets and Refund of Fares) Rules 2015.”
He further stated, “Under normal conditions, a PRS counter ticket can also be canceled online through the IRCTC website or by dialing 139 within the stipulated time limit mentioned in the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Tickets and Refund of Fares) Rules 2015. The refund can be collected by submitting the original PRS counter ticket to the reservation counters, as per instructions issued from time to time.”
Previously, travelers were required to visit railway counters to cancel tickets and receive refunds, a process that was often time-consuming. The new online ticket cancellation system now allows passengers to cancel tickets through the Indian Railways website or mobile app, providing a hassle-free and convenient experience.
This initiative is part of Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to digitize services and enhance the travel experience, aligning with the government’s push for digitalization. Here’s a closer look at how the new facility works and how commuters can make use of it.
Counter-Ticket Cancellation Procedure
- Initiate Cancellation:
- Enter the PNR Number, Train Number, and the Captcha on the IRCTC website or mobile app.
- Confirm that you have read the rules and procedures by selecting the checkbox.
- Click Submit to proceed.
- OTP Verification:
- An OTP will be sent to the mobile number provided during ticket booking.
- Enter the received OTP and click Submit.
- Once validated, the PNR details will be displayed on the screen.
- Confirm Cancellation:
- Verify the ticket details and click Cancel Ticket for full cancellation.
- The refund amount due will be displayed on the screen.
- Receive Confirmation:
- An SMS will be sent with PNR and refund details.
- Sample SMS: “Your PNR xxxxxxxxxx has been cancelled. Collect refund amount xxxxx from the journey commencing station or nearby satellite PRS locations. Ref. Terms and conditions.”
- Refund Collection Guidelines:
- For tickets canceled up to 4 hours before the scheduled departure for confirmed tickets and up to 30 minutes before departure for RAC/Waitlisted tickets, the refund can be collected from any PRS counter by surrendering the original journey ticket.
- For trains departing between 18:01 and 06:00 hours, refunds can be collected during the first 2 hours of PRS counter opening the next day.
- For trains departing between 06:01 and 18:00 hours, refunds can be collected up to 4 hours after scheduled departure during PRS counter working hours.
- Conditions for Online Cancellation:
- Online cancellation is only available if a valid mobile number was provided during booking.
- Cancellation and refunds of PRS counter tickets are allowed under normal circumstances and not in cases of train delays or cancellations.
- For fully confirmed tickets, online cancellation is allowed up to 4 hours before departure.
- For RAC/Waitlisted tickets, online cancellation is allowed up to 30 minutes before departure.
- Refunds must be collected from the journey commencing station or nearby satellite PRS locations.
- Special Ticket Cancellation:
- Privilege/Duty Pass/PTOs/Complimentary Pass Tickets can be canceled online, but pass holders must visit the counter for re-validation if needed.
- For PTO tickets issued at 1/3rd of the total basic fare, normal cancellation charges apply.
- If cancellation charges exceed the ticket value, passengers can choose whether to cancel PTO tickets online.
- Final Steps:
- After confirmation, the PNR will be marked as “Cancelled but not refunded” in the system.
- The seat/berth will be released, and the refund amount will be displayed on the website.
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