SRINAGAR: Indian Railways will allow passengers to change the travel date of confirmed train tickets online without any fee starting January, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced, as reported by NDTV.
Under the new policy, passengers will no longer need to cancel their tickets and rebook to change travel dates, a process that previously led to deductions based on the timing of cancellation. Vaishnaw described the existing system as “unfair and not in the interest of passengers” and confirmed that instructions have been issued to implement the changes.
The minister cautioned, however, that there is no guarantee of a confirmed ticket for the new date, as it will depend on seat availability. Passengers will also have to pay the fare difference if the new ticket costs more than the original.
Currently, cancellations 48 to 12 hours before departure incur a 25 per cent deduction from the fare. The penalty increases for cancellations made 12 to 4 hours prior to departure, and no refunds are generally granted once the reservation chart is prepared.
The move is expected to benefit millions of travellers who need to reschedule their journeys but have faced hefty cancellation fees under the existing system.
