Beginning January 2026, Indian Railways passengers will be capable of change the journey date of confirmed tickets on-line with out cancellation costs. Seat availability will decide affirmation and fare variations will apply if the brand new ticket is costlier.
In a bit of fine information for travellers, Indian Railways has deliberate to introduce a brand new coverage permitting passengers to alter the journey date of confirmed prepare tickets on-line with none price. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw advised NDTV that the passenger-friendly system can be carried out beginning January 2026. At current, passengers who want to change their journey date should cancel their ticket and e-book a brand new one, which regularly results in deductions relying on the timing of cancellation. “This method is unfair and never within the curiosity of passengers,” Vaishnaw stated. He confirmed that directions have been issued to implement the brand new modifications.
Seat availability and fare distinction
The Railway Minister cautioned that there is no such thing as a assure of a confirmed ticket on the brand new date, as it would depend upon seat availability. If the ticket for the rescheduled date is dearer, passengers might want to pay the fare distinction, he added. The transfer is predicted to assist hundreds of thousands who at the moment face hefty cancellation charges when rescheduling their prepare journeys. Beneath the prevailing guidelines, cancelling a confirmed ticket 48 to 12 hours earlier than departure results in a 25 per cent deduction, whereas cancellations 12 to 4 hours earlier than the journey incur increased deductions. As soon as the reservation chart is ready, refunds are usually not granted.
A step in direction of passenger-friendly Railways
This new facility is seen as a big step in direction of making Indian Railways extra versatile and passenger-oriented with an purpose to scale back monetary and logistical burdens for travellers whereas selling on-line ticket administration.
Railways asks zones to conduct site visitors examine earlier than remaining survey
In the meantime, the Railway Board has directed all zones to first get the site visitors examine achieved for any mission to examine its viability earlier than transferring on to arrange the Last Location Survey and the Detailed Mission Report. Based on officers, the Board’s path got here following numerous complaints of violation of due procedures by zonal railways in reference to Last Location Survey and DPR preparation for New Traces, Doubling/Multitracking, Gauge Conversion and Yard Remodelling Works. In a letter dated September 29, the Board reiterated its earlier path by which it had stated that the consultants ought to “first undertake the site visitors examine to evaluate the preliminary/preliminary viability of the mission earlier than continuing forward with the remainder of the consultancy based mostly on the result of the skilled site visitors examine”.
(With inputs from PTI)
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