NEW DELHI: With unusual increase in ticket bookings over the counter since the announcement of demonetization by government, Indian Railways has revised cancellation and refund policy of tickets above Rs 10,000 and no cash refunds will be provided to passengers.
The new norms will be applicable for tickets booked through passenger reservation system counters between November 9 and November 11.
“Cancellation of such tickets and refund of fare of value of Rs 10,000 and above shall not be allowed in cash or through green pay order or by any means involving cash across the counter. The payment shall be only through cheque/electronic payment,” said the order issued by Railway Board.
The decision has been taken as there has been huge rise in ticket bookings over the counter starting Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 will be invalid starting November 8 midnight.
For the convenience of passengers, railway will be accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes till November 11 midnight. Other emergency services like hospitals, airports and petrol pumps are also accepting old currency notes.
“Passengers seem to be panic buying tickets as railway is accepting old currency notes for convenience of passengers. We have set in place various precautionary measures and are seeking identity proofs like PAN and Aadhar for ticket bookings above Rs 50,000,” said Member Traffic Mohd. Jamshed.
The order further said that tickets above Rs 10,000 may refunded through filing of TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) only on surrendering of original ticket.
“TDR shall be filed within the prescribed time limit for cancellation of ticket across the counter as per refund rules like TDR shall be filed only upto half an hour before the scheduled departure of the train for RAC/WL tickets and for confirmed tickets upto 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, for which ticket has been issued,” the order further said.
The TDR refund will also be through cheque and electronic payment.
Long queues were seen at railway platforms across country with people booking tickets and many booking were above Rs 50,000.