In a move aimed at providing relief to railway passengers, Indian Railways has announced substantial revisions to the cancellation charges for tickets booked under the Waiting List (WL) and Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) categories via the IRCTC website.
Background of the Change:
The impetus for this reform stems from a complaint lodged by Sunil Kumar Khandelwal, a social activist and Right to Information advocate from Giridih. Khandelwal brought attention to the exorbitant cancellation charges imposed on waiting list tickets. Previously, in scenarios where a waiting ticket priced at Rs 190 remained unconfirmed, passengers were only refunded Rs 95, with a significant portion withheld as service charges.
New Cancellation Charges:
In response to Khandelwal’s advocacy, Indian Railways has standardized the cancellation fee to Rs 60 per passenger across all waiting list and RAC tickets. This marks a significant departure from the earlier system of variable and higher charges, ensuring fairness and uniformity in cancellation fees.
IRCTC’s Response:
Addressing Khandelwal’s concerns, the Managing Director of IRCTC emphasized that the formulation of policies regarding ticket bookings and refunds falls under the purview of the Indian Railways (Railway Board). IRCTC is duty-bound to comply with these directives. The MD expressed appreciation for Khandelwal’s proactive stance in raising this issue, which ultimately precipitated a policy shift benefiting passengers nationwide.
Impact of the Change:
The revised cancellation charges policy is poised to alleviate the financial burden on passengers, rendering the ticket booking and cancellation process more economical. This measure assumes significance given the considerable volume of passengers reliant on the railway network for travel across the length and breadth of India.
Acknowledgment and Commendation:
Khandelwal’s advocacy efforts have garnered commendation, underscoring the pivotal role of citizen engagement in effecting positive change. The prompt response by railway authorities in addressing these concerns reflects a proactive approach towards enhancing customer satisfaction and ensuring regulatory compliance in railway operations.
The implementation of standardized cancellation charges for WL and RAC tickets stands as a testament to Indian Railways’ commitment to fostering transparency, fairness, and passenger-centric policies in its service delivery.
