Prabhu defends double ticket cancellation charges

As per the new rules, cancellation charge for a railway ticket has been doubled while the refund option avail only for 4 hrs before the scheduled departure of a train

The new rules for cancellation of train tickets will not cause inconvenience to passengers, rather it will help in checking black marketing of tickets, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said.

"New rules for cancellation of train tickets will not cause any inconvenience to the passengers, besides it will check black marketeering of tickets," he said at a programme of North Eastern Railway last evening.

As per the new rules, cancellation charge for a railway ticket has been doubled while the refund option can now be availed only till four hours before the scheduled departure of a train.

The minister also made the announcement of connecting Buddha Circuit by providing more facilities and said that budgetary provision had already been made in this regard.

The Union Minister flagged off an electric train on Gorakhpur-Bhatni section and another between Gorakhpur to Mumbai.

He also announced that an intercity train between Gorakhpur to Allahabad via Faizabad would be launched soon.

To reduce traveling time between Delhi to Gorakhpur, Prabhu directed the officials to complete electrification work between Gonda to Gorakhpur by March 2016.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Singh and MP Yogi Adityanath were also present on the occasion.