India railway ticket booking to get more costly as IRCTC restores service charges

Railway ticket booking through IRCTC will get more costly as the Indian Railways decide to restore service fee charges. Almost three years after they were withdrawn to promote digital payments. A pet project of the Narendra Modi-BJP government.

Railway Board has given its approval to IRCTC to restore the mechanism of charging service from passengers booking online tickets.

In a letter date August 3, the Board has said the IRCTC, railways ticketing and tourism arm, had made a “detail case” for the restoration. The service charge on booking of e-ticket and the matter examine by the “competent authority”.

It further said the Finance Ministry contend that the scheme of waiving of service charges was a temporary one and that the railway ministry could begin charging e-tickets.

“In view of the advice given by the Ministry of Finance, the competent authority decide. IRCTC may take a suitable decision on the imposition/restoration of convenience fee/service charges and the quantum levied,” the letter said.