The Indian Railways is considered the lifeline of the nation and not without some obvious reasons. Having started its operation in April of 1863, Indian Railways is a behemoth today operating over 13000 trains daily that touches upon more than 7300 stations. With over 68,000 kilometers, Indian railways is the fourth largest network in the world just behind the USA, China and Russia. The largest government employer, Indian Railways is the most important daily transportation provider carrying over 24 million passengers daily. Railways are the preferred mode of transportation for an overwhelming number of Indian passengers for the comfort they offer at relatively low ticket prices.
With the advent of rapid digitization, the majority of railway tickets nowadays are booked online. It is therefore important to know the rules and regulations related to IRCTC Confirm Ticket Cancellation Charges and Refunds. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is a government-owned entity that is responsible for taking care of the various activities related to Indian railways such as ticketing, catering and tourism services to name a few. Online tickets are booked through IRCTC, which charges a certain cancellation fee for reserved and waitlisted tickets based on factors such as the ticket type and cancellation time of the ticket. Please note that fees levied on confirmed tickets depend upon how far in advance they are cancelled. What it means for example is that a ticket cancelled four hours before the scheduled departure of the train will attract higher fees than say a confirmed ticket cancelled two days before the date of the journey.
Have you booked a train ticket in advance, but owing to some unforeseen events, you have decided to postpone or reschedule your journey. As such, you would like to cancel your ticket to get back your hard-earned money. There’s absolutely no cause for worry as in the following paragraphs we talk in detail about IRCTC Confirm Ticket Cancellation Charges and Refund policy. Cancellation of the ticket to reclaim your money is a completely hassle-free process that can be accomplished with just a few clicks of the mouse button. However, it is important to know about cancellation and refund rules so that you can be assured of how much money will be refunded in your bank account.
Cancellation charges levied on tickets with confirmed status
The amount deducted from the overall ticket fare depends on how far in advance the ticket is cancelled relative to a train’s scheduled departure time and date. First, let’s look at the cancellation charge if the cancellation is made more than 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the train.
Cancellation done more than 48 hours before the train’s departure
If a confirmed ticket is cancelled online more than forty-eight hours before the scheduled departure of the train, the cancellation charges per passenger are applied as follows:
Rs 240 + GST for a ticket booked for AC First Class and Executive Class
Rs 200 + GST for ticket booked for AC 2 Tier and First Class,
Rs 180 + GST for a ticket booked for AC 3 Tier/ AC 3 Economy, and AC Chair car
Rs 120 for a ticket booked for a Sleeper Class
Rs 60 for a ticket booked for Second Class.
Please note that the cancellation charges mentioned above are for one passenger. For example, if you wish to cancel two AC 3 Tier tickets, you will have to pay Rs 360 + GST as cancellation charges.
Cancellation between 48 and 12 hours before the train’s scheduled departure
For online cancellation of a confirmed ticket between 48 and 12 hours before the train’s departure, the cancellation charge is 25% (minimum charges apply) + GST applicable for all AC tickets booked for all classes.
Cancellation between 12 and 4 hours before the train’s scheduled departure
For online cancellation of a confirmed ticket between 12 hours and 4 hours before the train’s departure, the cancellation charge is 50% (minimum charges apply) of the fare + GST. This is for all AC Classes.
Cancellation before 4 hours of a train’s departure
No amount is refunded for a confirmed ticket cancelled before 4 hours of the scheduled departure of the train if a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) is not filed.
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Cancellation Charges for Waitlisted Tickets
Cancellation rules and charges for a waitlisted ticket are different from that of a confirmed ticket.
If a waitlisted ticket is cancelled 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, a cancellation charge of Rs 20+ GST is levied per passenger. The remaining fare will be refunded to your bank account.
However, there are no cancellation charges for tickets that remain waitlisted after the chart is prepared. In case you don’t get an RAC or a confirmed ticket after the chart is prepared, the ticket is automatically cancelled and the full amount is refunded. Passengers as such whose waitlisted tickets are automatically cancelled are not allowed to board the train.
Refund Policy for Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) Ticket
The refund policy for RAC tickets by IRCTC is as follows:
1. Before the Chart is out: If an RAC ticket is cancelled before the final chart is prepared, a passenger is entitled to a full refund minus a small cancellation charge.
2. 12 Hours Before the scheduled departure of the train: If an RAC ticket is cancelled 12 hours before the departure of a train, a passenger is entitled to a full refund minus a small cancellation fee. It is to be noted that cancellation charges for RAC tickets are less than cancellation charges for confirmed tickets.
3. Also, it is to be noted that passengers are entitled to a full refund less clerical charges(depending upon the class) even if the chart is prepared, if the passenger cancels the ticket half an hour before the departure of the train.
The specific cancellation charges for confirmed tickets as mentioned above depend upon factors like the class of travel and the timing of cancellation i.e. how far ahead the ticket is cancelled before the scheduled departure of the train.
In case of online cancellation of tickets, the amount after deduction is refunded to your bank account within 5 days or before that.
Also, cancellation of confirmed and RAC tickets is not allowed for Premium special trains. The refund process is initiated through the PRS system only if the train itself is cancelled.
If there is an emergency like a strike or a natural disaster such as a flood, and the passenger is not able to make it to the station on time, the passenger then under such circumstances can file a TDR within 3 days. The time for processing the refund in such circumstances is 90 days.
Rules Regarding Cancellation of Tatkal Tickets?
It is important to know about the rules and regulations for the cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets. It is to be noted that no refunds are available for confirmed Tatkal tickets. Tickets generated online cannot be cancelled after chart preparation but TDR can be filed. However, the rules are different for waitlisted Tatkal tickets. The amount that will be deducted for a waitlisted Tatkal ticket varies, and you need to check the IRCTC website for more up-to-date information.
Also, note that charges related to the cancellation of a confirmed ticket in case the train is late are different than if the train is on time. You need to check it on the IRCTC website for extant rules.
