Travellers feel 50 per cent cancellation fee is ‘too steep’

Following the railways decision to double the charges to cancel a confirmed ticket, city travellers said it was too steep a penalty.

The rule will come into effect from November 12. A passenger who cancels within the stipulated time period too will lose Rs 240 in AC- I tier (executive), Rs 200 in AC-II tier, Rs 180 in AC-III tier or chair car, Rs 120 in second-class sleeper and Rs 60 in second class.

The overall rule is that if a passenger cancels a ticket between 12 to 48 hours of the trains departure he/she will have to pay a refund of 25 per cent while those who cancel in the 4 to 12 hour period will get only 50 per cent refund. Reservation Against Cancellations (RAC) tickets will be not refunded if these are cancelled 30 minutes before the train’s departure.

Writer Ruhi Vajpayee (23), a resident of Mahim, who travels to her hometown Jhansi frequently said she had had to cancel the booking many times owing to work.

“This new rule of 50 per cent will burn a hole in my pocket,” she said.