Indian Railways Pet Travel Policy: Everything You Need to Know
As Christmas and New Year travel plans take shape across India, many pet owners are facing a common dilemma: what to do with their furry companions during holiday trips. With schools closing for the festive season and families planning visits to hill stations or hometowns, the question of pet travel becomes increasingly important. Indian Railways, being one of the most affordable transportation options, has specific guidelines for passengers wishing to travel with their pets.
Understanding IRCTC Pet Travel Rules and Restrictions
According to the official Indian Railways pet travel policy, dogs and cats can only be carried in First AC or First Class compartments. However, there's a crucial condition that pet owners must note: the entire 4-berth cabin or 2-berth coupe must be allotted to a single PNR number. This means you cannot travel with your pet in shared accommodations with other passengers who haven't consented to sharing space with animals.
For smaller pets, the rules are more flexible. Puppies and kittens that can be carried in baskets are permitted in any class after payment of the usual booking charges. This provides some relief for owners of smaller pets who don't require the exclusive cabin arrangement.
Step-by-Step Guide to IRCTC Pet Ticket Booking
The process for booking pet tickets has been streamlined through the IRCTC online system. Here's the detailed procedure:
Step 1: Begin by visiting the IRCTC e-ticketing website (irctc.co.in). Click on the "TRAINS" menu and select the "Dogs/Cats Booking" submenu.
Step 2: You'll be redirected to Indian Railway's Parcel website. Enter your mobile number to receive an OTP, then provide your email ID to log in to the system.
Step 3: The system checks your eligibility for pet booking against your PNR number. This process can only occur after the preparation of the first chart and up until the final chart is prepared. If eligible, you'll see options to select the number of pets you're carrying.
Step 4: After entering your ID card details and selecting the number of pets, proceed to payment through the SBI payment gateway. The freight charges are credited to the zonal railway of your source station.
Step 5: Complete the payment using UPI, QR code scanning through apps like Bhim, Paytm, or PhonePe, or other available options.
Step 6: Upon successful payment, you'll receive a confirmation with a Luggage Ticket Number. The luggage ticket is emailed to your registered email ID, and a booking confirmation SMS is sent to your mobile number.
Important Considerations for Pet Travel on Trains
Pet owners should be aware of several critical aspects of the railway pet policy. The request for allotment of cabin or coupe for pet travel must be made at the divisional railway manager office or General Manager office. Railway authorities give due consideration to such requests during the allotment process.
Once booked, the final chart displays the entry of booked pets against the passenger's name in the handheld device of the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE). This ensures smooth verification during the journey.
A significant restriction applies to refunds: no refund of freight charges is admissible for pet luggage tickets, even in cases of PNR cancellation, train cancellation, or train delays. This makes it essential for pet owners to be certain of their travel plans before booking pet tickets.
As train travel continues to be the preferred mode of transportation for millions of Indians during the festive season, understanding these pet travel regulations becomes crucial for animal lovers. The systematic approach adopted by Indian Railways ensures that both pet owners and other passengers can travel comfortably while maintaining necessary safety and hygiene standards.
