Indian Railways — Train cancelled but not refunded

Address:	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600008
Website:	Train cancelled but not refunded

From 13.02.2017
Dr K.R. Shyamsundar, IPS (retd.),
Former DGP TN,
29, 1st Main Road, 2nd Cross St,
Kalaimagal Nagar, Ekkattuthangal,
Chennai, 600032

To
The Commercial Superintendent,
Southern Railways, Chennai.

Sir,
Sub: Cancellation of Train12244 on 20th January 2017 – Non refund of the ticket amount – Reg
Ref:[protected] – CC Coimbatore Jn to Salem Jn

I am to inform that I am an IPS officer and retired in the rank of DGP TN and that I do have a special Railway concession (POLMDL) vide s- 2012192, which is valid up to June 2022. I am to add that since there is no provision in IRCTC for the special railway concession category for police Medals of PM & President, on 23rd December 2016, I did buy tickets for to and fro journey from Coimbatore to Salem and back in PRS-Mas category vide PNR[protected] – CC Coimbatore Jn. to Salem Jn. for the onward and PNR 412 – 7062077 for return trip in 12244 and 12243 respectively.
2) On 20th January 2017, though the copy of the ticket[protected] – CC Coimbatore Jn. to Salem Jn. that was in whatsApp was shown to at the ticket counter, it was not entertained in the promised digital India! Since it was not entertained, I did inquire at 12:00 noon whether the train in question was cancelled owing to the Jullikattu bandh and railroko agitation. However, the counter person did check with his colleague at the office of the Railway Junction Master and informed that the train in question was on time and therefore, I procured a duplicate ticket on 20.01.2017 at 12:05 by paying Rs. 590 vide ticket No. 34464967 though the cost of the ticket was Rs. 885 only.
3) Contrary to the information given by the counter person that the train was on time, after waiting to board from 3 pm at 5:30 pm it was informed that quite a few trains including the said Shatabdi train 12244 were cancelled and that the said train was halted at Tiruvallur itself. When I requested for the refund, the counter person initialed and directed to claim it from Chennai as the tickets were purchased there.
4) On 23.01.2017 I returned from Coimbatore by SpiceJet at noon. Nevertheless, the traffic jam due to jullikattu agitation was so intense that I could reach home at Ekkattuthangal, which is just 8 Kms from airport only at 4 pm after almost 4 hours. I did send the ticket for refund through my driver Mr. Ramanan but terrific traffic snarl allowed to reach Central only at 10 pm! When I sent the tickets for reimbursement on 24.01.2017, I was informed that it was time barred as the claim should be made within three days.
5) Cancellation of train on 20th January 2017 was an unforeseen event and refusal to entertain at Chennai on 24.01.2017 is incorrect as all passengers could not be expected to return to HQs or the place where the tickets were procured within three days to claim for full refund. Moreover, the unprecedented traffic jam owing to Jullikattu Law and order problems on 23.01.2017 as listed out in the previous paragraph (Para4) and also bandh on the previous day that led to the cancellation of quite a few trains including Shadabdi Express from Coimbatore to Salem though were well known were not taken into consideration. In addition, it was wrong on the part of the counter person at Coimbatore Junction in informing at noon on 20th January 2017 that Shatabdi train 12244 was on time of course after checking with his colleague and also in refusing to accept the whatsApp copy of the ticket, which forced me to procure a duplicate ticket at Rs. 590 costing 67% of the original ticket cost and also in refusing to refund on 20th at Coimbatore Junction after the cancellation of the train was announced.
6) Due to the foregoing, may I request you to refund not only the ticket amount of Rs. 880/- and the cost of duplicate ticket viz. Rs. 590/- but also the additional amount at least equivalent to that of the taxi fare from Coimbatore to Salem a distance of 160kms (160 * 12 = Rs. 1920/- ) and for the mental agony in not getting the amount refunded both at Coimbatore and Chennai and for visiting the Railway Station Chennai viz. Rs. 1000/- at an earlier date please. The total amount claimed is Rs. 880 + 590 + 1920 + 1000 + 590 (Return duplicate ticket) = Rs. 4980 (Rupees Four thousand nine hundred and eighty only)
7) As a result of bandh by traders on 20th January 2017 including courier service, the return ticket with PNR 412 – 7062077 for return trip in 12243 that was sent from Chennai on 20th January 2017 to Salem address by speed post. Here again, due to cancellation of trains, etc. the courier booked by speed post of Government of India Postal Department did not reach Salem on time i.e. 21.01.2017 Saturday but only on 23.01.2017 Tuesday. Due to the cancellation of train, I had to buy duplicate ticket to return from Salem Junction to Coimbatore Junction by spending once again Rs. 590/- through my nose.

Yours Sincerely,

(Dr. K.R.Shyamsundar)
Former DGP TN (retd.)