AMN / NEW DELHI
The Ministry of Railways has announced that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges will not be levied on passengers for booking railway tickets on payment made through Debit Cards for a transaction value up to one lakh rupees.
In a statement, the Ministry said, instructions to this effect have been issued to the Banks by the Department of Financial Services.
It said the move will further help promote digital and cashless transactions.
The MDR charges are imposed by banks on the merchant for providing debit and credit card services.
The Ministry of Railways had informed the Department of Expenditure that all proceeds from the sale of tickets through IRCTC website and counters go to Consolidated Fund of India and such transactions should be considered as Government receipts.
The Ministry said, the benefits on Government transactions must be passed on to the public, and they should not face MDR charges while making payments to Government.
Besides, the Indian Railways has initiated the facility of printing ticket details in local language on unreserved tickets issued through Unreserved Ticketing System with first such language being Kannada.
The facility was under testing at Mysuru, Bengaluru and Hubballi stations with tickets being issued from one counter as trial from today. It will be extended to all other stations of Karnataka from tomorrow.
