The revised rules for refund of cancelled railway tickets will come into force from July 1.
Railway passengers (cancellation of ticket and refund of fare) Rules, 1998 have not been substantially revised in the last 15 years. The major changes in the existing rules and amendments in refund rules are as follows:
UNRESERVED: Refund of fare will be made on every such ticket after deducting the clerkage. (i) The ticket shall be presented for cancellation within three hours of issue of ticket. (ii) In case of tickets issued in advance, the ticket is presented up to 24 hours of the day preceding the day of journey.
RESERVED TICKETS: If the ticket is presented for cancellation more than 48 hours in advance of scheduled departure of train, a minimum per passenger cancellation charge will be deducted at a flat rate of `120 for AC First/Executive Class, `100 for AC-II Tier/First Class, Rs 90 for AC-III Tier/3 Economy/AC Chair Car, `60 for Sleeper Class and `30 for Second Class.
If the ticket is presented for cancellation between 48 hours and up to six hours instead of 24 hours as at present and up to four hours before the scheduled departure of the train, cancellation charge shall be 25 pc of the fare subject to a minimum of the cancellation charge.
If the ticket is presented for cancellation within six hours instead of existing 4 hours before the scheduled departure and up to two hours irrespective of distance instead of existing 3/6/12 hours for distance 200 km/200-500 km/500 km and above after the actual departure, the cancellation charge will be 50 pc of the fare subject to a minimum of the cancellation charge.
No refund will be granted on the reserved ticket if it is surrendered after two hours of the actual departure.
RAC/WAIT-LISTED: If a wait listed/RAC ticket is presented for cancellation, refund of fare will be admissible after deducting the clerkage. (i) The ticket is presented for cancellation upto three hours after the actual departure of the train irrespective of the distance.(ii) The passenger may get the tickets cancelled from any PRS counters or the designated current counters. No refund of fare will be granted on RAC ticket/wait-listed ticket after three hours of the actual departure of the train.
E-TICKETS: The e-ticket booked and cancelled through Internet and refund of fare will be credited to the customer’s account after deducting the charges applicable. In case of a confirmed e-ticket, refund will be granted for unused tickets on which reservation has been made.
In case of passengers on waiting list even after preparation of charts, names booked on that PNR will be dropped from the reservation chart and refund of fare will be credited to the customer’s account after deducting the clerkage.
TATKAL: No refund on confirmed Tatkal tickets.