Service charges on e-tickets from today

New Delhi: E-tickets bought through the IRCTC will be costlier as the railways has decided to restore the service charges from September 1, according to an order.

IRCTC will levy a service charge of Rs 15 on a ticket for non-AC classes and Rs 30 for AC classes, including first-class, according to the order.

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

The service charges were withdrawn three years ago to promote digital payments, a pet project of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

The IRCTC used to levy a service charge of Rs 20 on every non-AC e-ticket and Rs 40 for every AC ticket. Earlier this month, the Railway Board gave its approval to the IRCTC to restore the service charges.

In a letter dated August 30, the Board said the IRCTC had made a "detailed case" for the restoration of service charges and the matter had been examined by the "competent authority".

It further said that the finance ministry had contended that the service charges waiver was a temporary one and that the railway ministry could restart it.

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

For payments made through UPI/BHIM applications, the convenience fee will be Rs 10 and Rs 20 on the passengers for booking railway tickets online for non AC and AC classes, respectively.

Till a software for UPI/ BHIM is developed, payment through it will be incentivised by offering prizes through lottery on a regular basis.