IRCTC News: The Indian Railways is working hard to go digital. From online payments to mobile apps, the goal is to make ticket booking faster and easier. This plan is part of a larger dream to make India a fully digital nation.
But as the system becomes more high-tech, a new problem has come up. Many travelers are now worried that the Railway Digital Push has taken away one of their most useful rights—the Ticket Date Change Right. What used to be a simple and cheap process has now become costly and confusing.
Let’s take a closer look (IRCTC News) at what’s really happening and why so many passengers are upset.
The Digital Success Story and the Reservation Counter Problem
At first, the Railways tested its digital payment system at parcel counters. It worked well there—most customers happily switched from cash to digital payments because it was quick and transparent.
Encouraged by that success, the Railways expanded the plan to include passenger reservation counters and general booking offices. That’s where things started to get tricky.
Earlier, passengers who booked tickets with cash could easily change their travel date. If they requested the change at least 48 hours before the train’s departure, they only had to pay ₹20 per sleeper class ticket. It was simple, cheap, and very helpful.
This system gave passengers flexibility. Plans can change anytime—illness, work delays, family emergencies—and being able to shift the travel date for a small fee made a big difference.
Now, however, under the new digital-first policy, this simple option no longer exists for those who pay digitally. And that’s what’s causing serious Railway Digital Push concerns.
The Hidden Cost of Going Digital (IRCTC News)
In the new system, passengers who book tickets digitally can’t just change the date. Instead, they have to cancel their existing ticket and book a new one.
Here’s how it works:
Cancel the old ticket. You’ll lose ₹120 as a cancellation fee for a sleeper class ticket—much higher than the old ₹20 fee.
Book a new ticket. You’ll have to pay the full ticket amount again for your new date.
That means you pay more money and do double the work.
And it doesn’t end there—when you cancel a ticket bought digitally, the refund doesn’t come instantly. It usually takes a few days to show up in your bank account or wallet. So if you want to rebook right away, you need enough money to pay for both tickets at the same time.
In the old physical cash transaction system, things were simpler. You could cancel your ticket at the counter, get your refund immediately (after the cancellation fee), and book your new ticket right away. No waiting, no stress, and no need for extra money in your account.
That’s why many regular travelers still prefer to pay cash at the counter. As one railway staff member said, “Old passengers know this benefit, so they stick with cash. Younger passengers often use digital payments but don’t realize they lose the easy date change option.”
So, what started as a plan to make life easier has, in some cases, made it harder—and that’s the heart of the Railway Digital Push Concerns.
(IRCTC News) Friction at General Counters: A Right to Choose?
The same problem is now visible in the Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) — the system for short-distance and daily commuters. Many passengers still use cash here because it’s convenient and quick.
But the Railways’ push to reduce physical cash transactions has created confusion and arguments at counters. Some passengers don’t have smartphones or don’t trust digital payments. Others live in areas where internet connectivity is weak or unreliable.
According to railway data, nearly 10% of all UTS passengers still use cash. For them, paying in cash isn’t just a habit — it’s often their only real option. And since cash is still a legal way to pay in India, many passengers feel it’s their fundamental right to use it.
On top of that, there are still many digital payment system issues—slow networks, failed transactions, and app glitches. When these happen, passengers get stuck, miss their trains, or end up standing in long queues again.
So while the goal is to promote digital payments, the system must remember that not every traveler is ready or equipped for that change.
What Railway Officials Say (IRCTC News)
Railway officials have explained that this move toward digital payments comes from the Railway Board. They say the purpose is to encourage digital payments, not to ban cash completely.
Officials also admit that losing the Ticket Date Change Right for digital payments may not be intentional—it could be a technical or policy gap that they can fix later.
They point out that the Railways handles a massive number of tickets daily. For example, the Thiruvananthapuram division alone issues about 1.1 lakh general tickets every day. Managing this huge volume requires efficiency and technology—but also fairness for all types of passengers.
Experts agree that while digitization is the future, it should not take away basic passenger rights. The system must be designed so that digital and cash-paying passengers have equal options and benefits.
Finding Balance: Modernization With Inclusion
There’s no doubt that India’s move toward digital payments is a step forward. Digital systems bring transparency, speed, and convenience. But true progress should also be inclusive—it should make life better for everyone, not just those who are tech-savvy.
The Railway Digital Push concerns show how even well-meaning reforms can create new problems if not planned carefully. The loss of the Ticket Date Change Right is not just a small issue—it affects millions of passengers who rely on flexibility for their travel plans.
Until the digital payment system issues are fixed and the same rights are given to digital users, many travelers will continue to prefer the traditional physical cash transaction method.
The real goal should be to digitize the system without removing passenger choice. Every traveler—whether paying in cash or online—should have the same simple, affordable, and flexible options.
Final Thoughts (IRCTC News)
The Indian Railways’ digital transformation is an important step toward modernization. But as the system evolves, it must also protect passenger rights and ensure that convenience doesn’t come at a cost.
The Railway Digital Push concerns remind us that technology should serve people—not the other way around. The ability to easily change travel dates was once a simple right, not a privilege.
If the Railways can restore that Ticket Date Change Right for digital users and fix the Digital Payment System Issues, it will not only make the system fairer but also encourage more passengers to embrace digital transactions confidently.
After all, true modernization is not just about going digital—it’s about keeping things human.