New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS): The Indian Railways is launching a procedure enabling commuters who had booked tickets from Passenger Reservation counters to get them cancelled through their cell phones.

Currently people have to visit the reservation counter personally to cancel their tickets.

"We are introducing a new process for cancellation of counter tickets through the 139 helpline post verification using 'One Time Password' sent on registered phone number," Railway Minister Suresh Parabhu said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday while presenting the Railway Budget - 2016-17.

New procedure will allow passengers to cancel their tickets from anywhere in the country through telephonic services of the Indian Railways.

The government will also install ticket scanners at various stations to address the ticket-less menace.

"Bar coded tickets, scanners and access control to be introduced on a pilot basis on major stations to tackle the menace of ticket-less travel and ensure hassle free travel for passengers," Prabhu said.

"Indian Railways intends to commence sale of tickets through hand held terminals for the benefit of the suburban and short distance travellers. This would enable deployment of multiple 'Points of Sale' with minimal infrastructure requirement," he said.

The Indian Railways intends initiating sale of short-distance and platform tickets through ticket vending machines installed on busy train terminals which would be made compatible with not only cash but also credit and debit cards.