New IRCTC rule: Change boarding station 4 hours before departure
Have a confirmed train ticket but want to change your boarding point? Now you can! Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has recently introduced several rules in this regard. As per the changes, passengers will be allowed to change their boarding point before the first chart is prepared, that is, four hours before the departure. Here are the details.
No extra charges for boarding from the old station
According to a railway board directive to IRCTC circulated on March 15, a passenger, even after changing his/her boarding point, will still have the option to board the train from the old boarding point. The passenger would not have to pay any additional charges for the same. However, this will only be allowed if the berth/seat has not been allocated to another passenger.
Here is how you can change your boarding point
In order to change the boarding point, a passenger with a window ticket (hard copy) can write a request to the station from where the train originates. Passengers with an e-ticket can visit the IRCTC website to make the changes prior to the release of the chart. Alternatively, one can also call the Railway Inquiry Number, that is 139 to request for the changes.
Passengers will have the option to make changes just once
Notably, passengers will be allowed to make the change only once. As per existing rules, a passenger is allowed to change the boarding point 24 hours before the scheduled departure. It also says if someone's ticket has been seized, or for PNRs with VIKALP option, the boarding point change isn't applicable. If this remains unchanged in the new rules isn't clear yet.
Status of the changes still not reflected on IRCTC website
The new boarding point change rule is also applicable for those who have bought tickets under 'tatkal' quota. All said and explained, whether the above changes, which were supposed to come into effect by May 1, have been implemented or not isn't clear, as IRCTC's official website is still reflecting the existing ones and even 'Disha', IRCTC's digital assistant, re-directed us to the same.
