If you purchased a train ticket from a railway PRS counter and now need to cancel your journey due to unforeseen reasons, you no longer need to visit the station just to cancel it. Indian Railways allows passengers to cancel their counter tickets online directly through the official IRCTC website from the comfort of your home. However, to successfully collect your refund amount, you must follow specific railway rules and adhere to strict deadlines.
Step-by-Step Process to Cancel Counter Tickets Online
If you bought a confirmed or waitlisted ticket from a railway counter and your mobile number was registered during the purchase, you can follow these steps to cancel it online
- Go to the official IRCTC website and navigate to the Trains section under the menu, then click on the Counter Ticket Cancellation option.
- Enter your 10-digit PNR number, train number, and the captcha code displayed on the screen. Check the terms and conditions box and submit.
- A one-time password will be sent to the registered mobile number provided at the time of booking. Enter this OTP on the screen to proceed.
- Once the OTP is verified, the complete PNR details will appear on your screen. Select the specific passengers whose tickets need to be cancelled and click on Cancel Ticket.
- Upon completion, the screen will display the refund amount and cancellation details, and an official SMS will also be sent to your registered mobile number.
How and Where to Collect Your Refund
Even though the ticket cancellation is processed online, you still need to visit your nearest railway reservation counter to collect the physical refund amount. At the counter, you must present your original paper ticket along with the cancellation message received on your mobile phone to the railway clerk.
Deadlines for Claiming Your Refund
- If your train is scheduled to depart between 06:00 AM and 06:00 PM, you must cancel the ticket at least 2 hours before the scheduled departure time to claim your refund from the counter.
- If your train's scheduled departure falls between 06:00 PM and 06:00 AM, you can visit the counter to collect your refund up to 4 hours before the train leaves.
