IRCTC’s new ticket booking and refund rules

Indian Railways will start operations from June 1. It released the list of 200 special trains with both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned classes.

However, normal regular services including passenger and suburban services shall remain suspended until further notice.

Here are the new ticket booking rules:

• Only asymptomatic passengers are allowed to travel.
• Passengers can book their tickets through the IRCTC website or through the mobile application. Tickets will not be sold at counters on any Railway Station. Even the ticket booking through agents shall not be permitted.
• A maximum of 30 days shall remain as an advance reservation period.
• The tatkal or premium tatkal category will not be permitted in these special trains. Similarly, no unreserved tickets will be allowed.
• RAC and the Waiting list will be generated as per the existing rules; however, waiting list ticket holders will not be permitted to board the train.
• Two charts will be prepared. The first chart will be prepared 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train and the second chart shall be prepared 2 hours before the departure (currently it is 30 minutes).
• The online current booking shall be allowed in between first and second chart preparation.

Here are the ticket cancellation and refund rules:

• All cancellation and refund rules of 2015 shall be applicable. In addition to that, other COVID-19 specific rules mentioned below shall also be applicable.
• If the passenger is not fit for the journey due to the symptoms of coronavirus, then the fare will be refunded as per the applicable terms.
• However, such passengers shall have to submit their PNR for a single passenger.
• For group tickets, if one is found unfit for the journey and other passengers on the same PNR also do not want to travel, then refund shall be granted for all passengers.
• On the other hand, if one is found unfit for the journey and other passengers on the same PNR want to travel, then refund shall be granted for the passenger who is found to unfit to travel.

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Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Delhi_Amritsar_Express_-_AC_Chair_Car.jpg