Indian Railways is taking significant steps to tackle the overcrowding and long waitlists in sleeper and AC coaches. This change comes after numerous videos highlighted serious overcrowding issues, with passengers often left standing in cramped spaces.
The Railway Board has introduced a new policy that restricts the number of waitlisted tickets for both sleeper and AC classes. In the sleeper class, only about 30% of the seats can be waitlisted, meaning there will be roughly 150-200 waitlisted tickets per coach. For AC coaches, the waitlisted tickets will now be capped at 60% of total seats, replacing the previous fixed limit of 300. This aims to ease congestion and increase the chances of getting confirmed reservations.
Historically, overcrowding has been a persistent issue. In the past, waiting lists could exceed 700 in sleeper class and 400 in third-AC, often leaving passengers without proper seating. The Indian Railways first set limits on waitlists back in 2015, but the rising number of passengers and complaints prompted this latest round of changes. A spokesperson from Indian Railways noted, “These revised limits will enhance passenger safety and improve the feasibility of securing confirmed seats.”
In related news, a recent ruling by a consumer court underscored the importance of these changes. The Bhojpur Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered the Railways to pay compensation to passengers who were denied their reserved seats due to staff occupying them. The court highlighted the mental and physical distress caused, ruling for a payout of Rs 20,000 to affected passengers, along with a refund of their booking costs plus interest.
These steps aim to improve the travel experience for millions of passengers across India. It remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in reducing overcrowding and waitlist woes, but they signal a commitment to enhancing railway services.
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