New Delhi: Cancelling tickets purchased from the railway counter will no longer require standing in long queues. In an attempt to transform the face of Indian railways and improve the user experience for travellers, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today unveiled another facility which will ease the cancellation procedure for passengers.
Rail tickets purchased on the counter can now be cancelled online. Online cancellation can be done through IRCTC website or the helpline number 139.
"Confirmed, wait-listed and RAC tickets purchased from counter can now be cancelled online through IRCTC website or helpline 139," a statement from the ministry said.
The refund will be made at the station where journey commenced or at the nearby notified satellite Passenger Reservation System location.
The facility will be available on the mobile number which was given at the time of booking.
Confirmed tickets can be cancelled by dialling 139 or through IRCTC website four hours before the scheduled departure while RAC and wait-listed tickets can be cancelled up to half an hour befor the train's departure.
"Earlier, cancelling the counter tickets used to be more cumbersome than booking them. This facility will bring relief to thousands of passengers," Railway minister Suresh Prabhu told reporters here.
On the occasion, the minister also flagged 'Roll-on Roll-off' service from Bihta to Turki station in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar through video conferencing.
"After consultation with truck operators who transport sand from North Bihar to South Bihar through road bridges, it was decided to operate 'Ro-Ro' service across the Digha Bridge," the statement said.
Under this scheme the truck would be moved on the rakes to avoid congestion on the roads, it added.
The minister said that the services would be extended to cover more commodities and destinations in future. "All these schemes were announced in the budget speech. Usually, the promises are forgotten after the speech but this government is committed to fulfill the promises made in the budget," Prabhu said.
