Passengers will now have a big relief as Railways has decided to charge a minimal fee on cancellation of RAC tickets booked from the IRCTC website. Railways won't deduct a huge amount in the name of convenience fees, but a small amount of Rs 60 per passenger.

Railways has decided to provide this relief to passengers after receiving a complaint from Giridih's social cum RTI activist Sunil Kumar Khandelwal.

Khandelwal had written to the railway administration on April 12 about the arbitrary fee charged by IRCTC for ticket cancellation. In the letter, he stated that if waiting tickets booked through the IRCTC website are not confirmed, the Railway itself cancels those tickets. In addition, a significant portion of payment is deducted as a service charge.

For example, it was stated that if a waiting ticket is booked for Rs 190 and not confirmed, the Railways will only refund Rs 95. In light of this complaint, the IRCTC has taken significant action.

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The Managing Director of IRCTC has informed Khandelwal on April 18 that the policy, decisions and regulations related to ticket booking and refund are the subject of Indian Railways (Railway Board).

IRCTC is bound to follow the rules and regulations set by the Railways. He further stated that in case of fully waitlisted, RAC ticket clerkage charges, a cancellation charge of Rs 60 per passenger will be levied as per Indian Railways rules. The MD of IRCTC has also expressed gratitude to him for bringing the matter before the Railway Administration.

Meanwhile, Khandelwal has expressed gratitude to the railway administration for taking cognizance of the matter and taking immediate action.