New IRCTC Rule: Soon, Quicker Refunds On Your Cancelled Railway Tickets - All You Need To Know
IRCTC is set to revolutionize its e-ticketing system with a next-generation upgrade, expected to be launched by March next year. This new version will significantly improve the speed of online ticket booking, especially for Tatkal tickets, alleviating the common frustrations faced by passengers. The upgraded platform promises to handle a higher load, ensuring a smooth booking experience.
In a major improvement, IRCTC has introduced an auto-pay service that ensures refunds are processed within two hours for canceled tickets. According to IRCTC's CMD, Sanjay Kumar Jain, this system works similarly to an IPO mechanism, where funds remain in the passenger's bank account until the booking is confirmed. If the ticket is not booked or gets canceled, the funds are promptly returned to the account, with 92% of refunds already being processed within this two-hour window.
To further enhance customer satisfaction, IRCTC has addressed the issue of unwanted waitlisted tickets. Passengers now have the option to choose whether their payment should proceed if only a waitlisted ticket is available. If not desired, the transaction will be blocked and funds will not be deducted from their account. This system ensures that passengers only pay for confirmed tickets.
Additionally, IRCTC has been actively responding to customer complaints, particularly concerning its catering services. Over the past few months, IRCTC has handled over 1,000 complaints, resulting in fines totaling over ₹25,000 for accountability. Significant penalties have also been imposed in 20 cases, exceeding ₹1 lakh each. To improve service quality, more than 150 base kitchens have been operational since August 15th, ensuring better food availability across 1,250 trains and 500 stations.
The upcoming changes and enhancements demonstrate IRCTC’s commitment to improving the overall travel experience for millions of passengers, ensuring quicker service and greater convenience.
