You can comfortably book train tickets online and can cancel them online if you need to. But what about the tickets which you bought at the station counters? Do you have to go to the counter again to cancel them? No, you can cancel those train tickets online. Detailed here are the required documents for cancellation, the process, etc.
Requirements for Online Cancellation of Counter Tickets
The requirements for online cancellation of the IRCTC counter tickets are simple.
- The primary requirement is the PNR number on the train ticket.
- You must also know the train number. Both these numbers can be seen on the top of your ticket.
- The next requirement is access to the mobile number provided at the time of ticket booking. The OTP for the confirmation of cancellation will be sent to this number.
Once you have all these details, you can go to the IRCTC app, website or other third-party apps such as redBus to proceed with the cancellation process.
The IRCTC Counter Ticket Online Cancellation Process
You can use the IRCTC website or mobile app to complete the process. You do not need to use any IRCTC Login credentials to cancel the counter tickets.
- After opening the app, navigate to the tab “Cancel Tickets”.
- Now, type in the PNR number, train number, and the Captcha code that is visible on your screen.
- Check the box against the cancellation policy agreement and click submit.
In the second stage, an OTP will be sent to the mobile phone number submitted at the time of reservation. Check the SMS that comes with the OTP and confirm the PNR displayed there. Once confirmed, type the OTP in the designated box and click on the “Cancel Ticket” button.
Once the confirmation is done, an SMS confirming the cancellation and details about the refund will be sent to the above-mentioned mobile phone number.
The SMS on the registered mobile number will show the amount due for refund and that you can get the refund from the designated station for your boarding or any other railway station that has a PRS reservation facility.
Rules for Online Cancellation and Refund of Counter Tickets
The counter tickets are eligible for online cancellation only if they meet certain conditions. There also are rules to follow for the cancellation.
- Online cancellation will be possible only if you have provided a valid mobile phone number at the time of reservation.
- Online cancellation will be allowed only up to 4 hours before the departure time for the confirmed tickets and up to 30 minutes before the RAC and waiting list tickets.
- You can check the PNR status to confirm this.
- Tickets that are not confirmed can wait until the IRCTC chart preparation to cancel the tickets online.
- You must surrender the original ticket at the PRS counter to get the refund.
- The refund amount will be subject to the IRCTC cancellation charges policy and other rules.
Conclusion
The convenience of cancelling the counter tickets for IRCTC trains has been available for a while. This can be made available if you provide a valid mobile number at the time of ticket booking. You do not need an IRCTC account to cancel these tickets. At the same time, you must see if you have easy access to the PRS station nearby to collect the refund. Moreover, you must be very careful to check the PNR number before cancellation as it is an irreversible process.
FAQs
1. How do I contact IRCTC customer care?
IRCTC customer care is available 24/7 through phone and email. Their email id is etickets@irctc.co.in.
2. Can I wait and see if my ticket gets confirmed before cancellation?
Yes, if you have a ticket on the waiting list but expect it to be confirmed, you can wait until 30 minutes before the departure time to cancel the ticket online.
3. What are the cancellation charges for IRCTC counter tickets?
The cancellation charges will be 25% of the ticket fare if you cancel it before 12 hrs of departure. Within 12 hrs to 4 hrs, the cancellation charges will be 50% of the fare.
4. Can I get a 100% refund on train ticket cancellation?
You will get a 100% refund on train ticket cancellation only if you were on a waiting list and your ticket didn’t get confirmed or the train has been cancelled.
5. Are the counter tickets transferable?
No, counter tickets are non-transferable. You can only cancel the ticket and not transfer it to another passenger. In addition, travelling on a ticket booked under someone else is a punishable offence.