What is a TDR and when should I file one?

A TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) is a refund claim filed with Indian Railways when you are unable to travel on a reserved ticket but could not cancel it online before the chart was prepared, or when a train was substantially delayed, diverted, or cancelled by Railways. TDR can be filed online through IRCTC for e-tickets or at the station for counter tickets. The refund is governed by the applicable Railway Refund Rules notified by the Ministry of Railways.

My TDR refund has been pending for months. Should I file RTI with IRCTC or with the Zonal Railway?

IRCTC is an agent for booking e-tickets — it forwards TDR claims to the relevant Zonal Railway for approval. The Zonal Railway (through its Chief Commercial Manager's office) is the authority that approves or rejects TDRs. For TDR status queries, file the RTI with the CPIO of the relevant Zonal Railway's Chief Commercial Manager (CCM) office. The Zonal Railway is determined by the station of origin of the train. For example, for a train originating in Delhi, file with Northern Railway. IRCTC can also be named if the query is about their processing of your claim.

IRCTC rejected my TDR saying I boarded the train. I did not board. What can RTI tell me?

File an RTI with the Zonal Railway asking for the final chart of the train on the journey date, and whether PNR [XXX] was marked as 'boarded' or 'not boarded' in the final chart, and by whom. Also ask for the TTE (Travelling Ticket Examiner) report if one exists. This information is often the basis for TDR rejection and RTI can help you get the documentary evidence to challenge a wrongful rejection.

Can I file RTI for a simple online ticket cancellation where the refund was less than expected?

Yes. If your ticket was cancelled online and the refund amount is less than what you expected, file an RTI asking for the refund calculation — the applicable cancellation charges (as per Railway Refund Rules), the time of cancellation relative to chart preparation, and whether any additional deductions were made. The RTI response will give you the specific rule applied so you can verify whether the deduction was correct.

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How to File RTI with Indian Railways / IRCTC for Ticket Refund and TDR Status

Q: What if the Zonal Railway or IRCTC does not respond to my RTI within 30 days?

File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the relevant Zonal Railway or IRCTC within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. If unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. Both Indian Railways and IRCTC are Central Government bodies — second appeals go to the CIC.

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI application with Indian Railways or IRCTC for pending TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) refund, e-ticket cancellation refund delays, and train chart information. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 24 May 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Railways

Address RTI ToCPIO, Chief Commercial Manager's Office / Zonal Railway Headquarters OR CPIO, IRCTC

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) and Indian Railways are Central Government bodies under the Ministry of Railways. Both are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.

The most common RTI-related issue with Railways and IRCTC is the non-settlement of TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) refund claims. Passengers also use RTI to understand why a refund was reduced on cancellation, or to get chart information that contradicts a TDR rejection.

What Can You Achieve with an RTI to IRCTC / Railways?

Know the current stage and status of your TDR claim
Get the specific Railway Refund Rule applied to reject or reduce your refund
Obtain chart information — whether your PNR was marked as boarded or not boarded
Know the name of the officer who decided on your TDR claim
Get the refund calculation details for a cancelled ticket — cancellation charges and deductions applied
Obtain information about train delay, diversion, or cancellation records relevant to your refund claim

Where to File: The Right Authority

This is the most important decision for a railway RTI:

Your Issue	File RTI With
TDR filed online through IRCTC	CPIO, Zonal Railway (Chief Commercial Manager's Office) for the railway zone where the train originated
TDR filed at counter	CPIO, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) office for the originating division
IRCTC-specific query (booking, website)	CPIO, IRCTC Head Office

Which Zonal Railway? Indian Railways has 18 zones. The zone is determined by the originating station of the train:

Northern Railway (NR): Delhi (NDLS, NZM, DLI), Ambala, Lucknow, Moradabad
North Central Railway (NCR): Prayagraj (Allahabad), Agra, Jhansi
North Eastern Railway (NER): Gorakhpur, Varanasi
Western Railway (WR): Mumbai (BCT), Ahmedabad, Ratlam
Central Railway (CR): Mumbai (CSMT), Pune, Nagpur

File at rtionline.gov.in under: Ministry of Railways → Zonal Railway → Chief Commercial Manager.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1: Gather Your Details

Your PNR number (10 digits, printed on the ticket)
The TDR reference number and date of TDR filing
The train number, name, and date of journey
The zone of the originating station (to identify the correct Zonal Railway)
Any rejection or communication received from IRCTC about the TDR

Step 2: Draft Your Application

Ask specifically about the TDR status, the refund rule applied, and — if rejected on grounds of "boarded" — the chart/TTE report. Address the RTI to the Zonal Railway's CCM office (not IRCTC) for TDR approvals. The sample above gives both options.

Step 3: File Online

File at rtionline.gov.in under Ministry of Railways → Relevant Zone, and pay ₹10 online.

Step 4: Appeals

If there is no response within 30 days, or the response is unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority at the Zonal Railway within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. If unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

TDR status and decision:

Current status of TDR Ref. No. for PNR XXX — approved, rejected, or pending
Amount sanctioned and refund processing date, if approved
Specific reason for rejection with reference to the applicable Railway Refund Rule, if rejected

Chart / boarding status:

Final reservation chart for Train No. XXX on DD/MM/YYYY — whether PNR XXX was marked as boarded or not boarded
TTE report (if any) filed for PNR XXX for the above journey

Ticket cancellation refund:

Cancellation charges applied to PNR XXX cancelled on DD/MM/YYYY — rule applied and time of cancellation relative to chart preparation
Whether any additional deductions were made and the basis

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
[Chief Commercial Manager's Office / Divisional Railway Manager's Office]
[Zonal Railway Name and Address]

OR

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC),
[IRCTC Head Office Address]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — TDR Refund / Ticket Cancellation Refund

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information:

Ticket / TDR details:
  PNR Number: [10-digit PNR]
  Train No. and Name: [Train Number and Name]
  Date of Journey: [DD/MM/YYYY]
  Class of Travel: [SL / 3A / 2A / 1A / CC, etc.]
  TDR No. / Reference No. (if filed): [TDR/Reference Number]
  Date TDR was filed / cancellation was made: [DD/MM/YYYY]
  Booking mode: [IRCTC e-ticket / Counter ticket]

Information sought:

1. The current status of my TDR bearing reference number [XXX] filed on [DD/MM/YYYY] for PNR [XXX] for train [Train No.] for the journey dated [DD/MM/YYYY].

2. Whether the TDR has been approved, rejected, or is pending — if approved, the amount sanctioned and the date on which refund was processed; if rejected, the specific reason for rejection with reference to the applicable Railway Refund Rule.

3. [If TDR was rejected] The Railway Refund Rule (as per the Indian Railway Passenger Fare and Freight Revision, or Ministry of Railways circular) that was applied to reject the refund, with the rule number and the specific ground.

4. The name and designation of the officer who decided on the TDR claim.

5. [For charting information] Whether the final chart for Train No. [XXX] on [DD/MM/YYYY] was prepared — if yes, the time of chart preparation and whether PNR [XXX] was marked as having travelled (boarded) or not boarded.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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