IRCTC launches OTP based refund for cancelled & wait-listed tickets

Indian Railways has introduced a new OTP based refund system for tickets booked through authorised railway ticketing agents. The move is believed to forge a transparent and customer friendly refund system for reserved e-tickets which are cancelled or which are fully wait-listed dropped tickets. This system will be implemented by Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC). The OTP (One time Password) will be received as SMS on the registered mobile number of the passenger (provided by the customer/passenger to the agent at the time of booking). The customer/passenger will be required to share the OTP with the agent who booked the ticket, for getting the refund amount. This user-friendly facility would allow the passenger to know about the exact refund amount received by agent on his behalf against cancelled ticket or fully waitlisted dropped ticket. The objective of the scheme is to streamline the cancellation refund process further so that cancellation amount is refunded timely to the customer by the agents.

In order to avail this facility, customers are advised to provide correct mobile no. of one of the passengers to the IRCTC authorised agent at the time of booking reserved rail e-tickets. Also, they should ensure that the agent records his or her mobile no. correctly at the time of booking reserved rail e-tickets. The passengers need to note that only IRCTC authorised agents are permitted to book reserved rail e-tickets to the customer. Also, they should note that OTP based refund for cancelled tickets or fully waitlisted dropped tickets, will be processed only if the ticket is booked through IRCTC authorised agents.