Travel plans often change at the last minute, leaving passengers with tickets they can't do anything with. To make such situations easier for travellers due to unforeseen circumstances, Indian Railways is all set to roll out a new policy aimed at reducing this hassle.
Starting January, passengers will be able to reschedule the travel date of their confirmed train tickets online without paying any additional fee, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told NDTV.
At present, travellers who wish to change their journey date must cancel their ticket and book a new one — a process that involves deductions depending on how close to departure the cancellation is made. This not only adds to costs but also causes inconvenience.
“This system is unfair and not in the interest of passengers,” Vaishnaw said, adding that directions have already been issued to introduce the passenger-friendly changes.
The minister clarified, however, that the new policy does not guarantee a confirmed ticket for the new travel date, as it will depend on seat availability. If the revised fare is higher, passengers will have to pay the difference, NDTV reported.
The move is expected to benefit millions of passengers who currently face steep cancellation fees when rescheduling their train journeys.
Under the existing rules, cancelling a confirmed ticket between 48 and 12 hours before departure incurs a 25 per cent deduction from the fare. The charge increases if the cancellation occurs between 12 and 4 hours before departure, and once the reservation chart is prepared, refunds are generally not allowed.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
