RailEnquiry

ALLAHABAD: Extending a new facility to the passengers, Indian Railways is now offering passengers to book retiring rooms at the railway station through the IRCTC website.Instead of arranging for accommodation anywhere else, passengers may now book a place in the retiring rooms at the stations through the website.In this connection, Director Traffic Commercial (G) SK Ahirwar in the Railway Board has written letters (dated June 6, 2013) to all zonal railways to begin offering the facility.All zonal railways across the country have been advised to take necessary steps to facilitate booking at railway stations where the retiring rooms exist.Advance booking can be done through internet on a ticket purchased through PRS during the reservation period prescribed for purchase of tickets. The system will validate authenticity of the ticket.Booking of retiring rooms will be permitted only against confirmed/RAC tickets and will not be permitted against wait-listed ticket, card tickets or platform tickets. The customer will have to register on the website for the booking and give PNR number for the transaction to be linked to PRS booking. On one PRS ticket, up to three retiring rooms can be booked. The booking will also be available on arrival at the railway station on PRS/UTS/card ticket.

A genuine passenger holding a general ticket for more than 500 kms will be allowed to avail of the facility at the railway station. Chief commercial managers have been authorised to relax the condition of 500 kms for specific locations based on local conditions.

On cancellation of ticket, the booking of retiring room will be cancelled automatically and will attract cancellation charges of about 10% 48 hours ahead of the day of checking in.

There will be deduction of about 50% if cancellation of the ticket is done within a period of less than 48 hours. But, there will be no refund if cancellation is done on the day of occupation.

Booking will be permitted for a period of 12 hours or 24 hours as per the need and in any case for not more than a period of 48 hours. Check in and check-out time should be between 8 am and 8 pm.

Passenger booking the retiring room needs to carry one of the approved five photo ID cards, namely Voter Identity Card, Passport, PAN Card, driving License, photo identity card issued by Central/state government, student identity card with photograph issued by recognised school/college for students, passbook of a nationalised bank along with photograph and credit card by banks with laminated photographs.