In a passenger-friendly move, Indian Railways has revised its ticket cancellation and refund policy, introducing a new timeline that offers greater flexibility and clarity for travellers.
As per the revised guidelines, passengers cancelling tickets up to 72 hours prior to departure will now be eligible for a full refund, with only nominal cancellation charges applicable. This marks an improvement from the earlier rule, where such benefits were limited to cancellations made up to 48 hours in advance.
Under the updated structure 72 to 24 hours before departure: 25% of the ticket fare will be deducted. 24 to 8 hours before departure: 50% of the ticket fare will be forfeited. Within 8 hours of departure: No refund will be granted, and the full ticket amount will be forfeited.
In another significant change, passengers can now change their boarding station up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train. Previously, this facility was available only until the preparation of the final reservation chart.
Additionally, Indian Railways has eased rules for ticket cancellations. Passengers holding reserved tickets can now cancel them from any railway station across the country, instead of being restricted to the originating or destination station.
The revised policy, announced by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, is expected to enhance passenger convenience and reduce last-minute financial losses due to unavoidable changes in travel plans. The new rules are set to come into effect from April 15th.
Passengers are advised to take note of the updated timelines to make informed decisions while planning or modifying their journeys.