Railways Earns Rs 90 Crore from Ticket Cancellations: A Look at Post-Pandemic Travel Trends

• South Western Railway generated Rs 90.4 crore from ticket cancellation charges between 2021 and 2025 across its Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Mangaluru divisions.
• Cancellation revenue was negligible in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions but surged from Rs 28 lakh in 2022 to Rs 32.9 crore in 2025, reflecting a return to regular travel.
• Officials attribute the rise to changes in travel plans, unconfirmed waiting-list tickets, and passengers opting for alternative transport, not ticket hoarding.
• Indian Railways rules dictate cancellation charges based on time before departure and class of travel, with higher deductions closer to the journey.
• The data highlights increased use of reserved tickets and passenger flexibility, with no significant rise in complaints despite the revenue surge.