Railways' Stricter Cancellation Policy Raises Alarms in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: A newly announced railway ticket cancellation policy, set to be implemented in a phased manner from next month, has sparked significant concern among passengers in the state, particularly impacting the large migrant population in Bengaluru. The policy, unveiled by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday, introduces substantial deductions for cancellations made less than 72 hours before a journey, potentially reducing flexibility for students and working professionals.
Details of the Updated Cancellation Norms
According to the revised regulations, passengers who cancel their tickets within 72 to 24 hours of departure will face a 25% deduction from the journey fare. For cancellations made between 24 and 8 hours prior to the journey, the deduction increases to 50%. Crucially, no refunds will be issued for any cancellation occurring less than 8 hours before the scheduled departure. This marks a significant shift from previous, more lenient cancellation charges.
Railways Defend Policy as a Transparency Measure
Defending the policy as part of ongoing reforms, the railways issued a statement arguing that the changes aim to enhance transparency and provide passengers with earlier clarity on their ticket confirmation status. "Railways, under continuous reforms, has increased the chart preparation timing from 4 hours to 9-18 hours before departure. This has provided clarity to passengers travelling from distant locations regarding their journey," the statement read. Officials claim this adjustment helps inform passengers in a timely manner whether their tickets are confirmed or not.
Financial Implications and Passenger Backlash
The South Western Railway (SWR) zone, which covers most of Karnataka including Bengaluru, has seen substantial revenue from cancellation charges in recent years. It earned Rs 90.4 crore from ticket cancellation or clerkage charges over the past five years, with the amount rising from Rs 27 crore in 2023 to approximately Rs 32.9 crore in 2025. With a significant portion of cancellations typically made less than 72 hours prior to travel, penalty revenue is expected to increase under the new policy.
However, regular passengers and travel enthusiasts argue the move could adversely affect those who need to plan journeys at short notice. Sumant Atreyas, a student, shared his experience: "There have been previous instances of cancellation when I was travelling to Palakkad. I already had a confirmed ticket, and there was a waiting list ticket in another train which reaches faster. When the latter got confirmed around 60 hours before the journey, I was charged only a very marginal amount. Though there's not much of an issue with the last two phases of refund, now people will be more careful before booking tickets."
Concerns from Working Professionals and Community Leaders
Bharati Srivastav, a 45-year-old anchor, expressed frustration: "This new policy feels like punishing passengers. What will we do in case of emergency situations where we have to change our travel plans? This will also increase the demand for Tatkal quota, which is already very difficult to get."
Reji Kumar, general secretary of the Kerala Samajam Bangalore, highlighted the broader impact: "There is a huge population of migrants in Bengaluru, and a lot of them, especially working professionals, decide to travel at short notice. In certain situations, leave might get cancelled or rescheduled. This also applies to students, and 72 hours isn't a good time window to finalise. We have decided to approach the officials and the minister in this matter, as this is unacceptable."
Broader Context and Future Steps
The policy change comes amid ongoing debates about passenger convenience versus railway revenue optimization. Critics worry that the stricter rules may disproportionately affect those with unpredictable schedules, such as students returning home or professionals managing work commitments. Community groups like the Kerala Samajam are mobilizing to petition railway officials and the minister, seeking reconsideration of the policy to better accommodate the needs of Bengaluru's diverse and mobile population.
