IRCTC to restore service charges on e-tickets

The Indian Railways has decided to restore the services charge for e-ticket from September 1, which will lead to tickets bought through IRCTC will get costlier.

The IRCTC will levy a service charge of Rs 15 per ticket for non-AC classes and Rs 30 for AC classes, including first-class, says IRCTC said in its latest order.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be applicable separately.

Around 3-year ago the Centre had withdrawn the service charges to promote digital payments, a pet project of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

The IRCTC which used to levy a service charge of Rs 20 on every non-AC e-ticket and Rs 40 for every AC ticket before it was withdrawn.

Recently, the Finance Ministry informed the national transporter that the scheme of waiving of service charges was a temporary one and that the railway ministry could begin charging e-tickets.

Officials say that after service charges were discontinued, IRCTC saw a 26 % drop in internet ticketing revenue in the financial year 2016-17.