Lok Sabha Question No. 1226 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Coaches for Reserved Categories
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Bhagirath Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1226 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2022

## COACHES FOR RESERVED CATEGORIES

†1226.  SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the people of various categories such as senior citizens, cancer patients, doctors, disabled persons, etc. have been getting reservation facility  in  rail  tickets  and  separate  coaches  have  also been  provided  to  ladies  and  the  disabled  travelling  in  various express trains, drutgami, superfast and other trains in the country; if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  various  security  personnel  of  the  country  belonging  to BSF,  CRPF,  Army  and  Police  have  been  seen  travelling  to  their destinations  by  sleeping/sitting  at  train  gates  under  compulsion while travelling for urgent official work or their own family reasons;
- (c) if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  facilities  of special  category  to  all  the  said  security  personnel  by  providing them  special  coaches  similar  to  coaches  for  ladies,  disabled persons, etc. or making seating arrangements for them by getting their waitlisted train tickets confirmed; and
- (d) if so, the time by which such facilities are likely to be provided to them, and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1226 BY SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  09.02.2022  REGARDING COACHES FOR RESERVED CATEGORIES.

- (a): With  a  view  to  facilitate  Rail  travel  by  senior  citizens,  cancer patients,  female  passengers  and  Divyangjans,  Indian  Railways  has taken following steps: -
- i. A  reservation  quota  of  six  berths  in  sleeper  class  in  long distance  Mail/Express  trains  and  a  reservation  quota  of  six berths  in  3AC  class  of  Garib  Rath/Rajdhani/Duronto/fully  airconditioned  Express  trains  has  been  earmarked  for  female passengers  irrespective  of  their  age  travelling  alone  or  in  a group of female passengers.
- ii. A combined reservation quota of six to seven lower berths per coach  in  Sleeper  class,  four  to  five  lower  berths  per  coach each  in  Air  Conditioned  3  tier  (3AC)  and  three  to  four  lower berths  per  coach  in  Air  Conditioned  2  tier  (2AC)  classes (depending  on  the  number  of  coaches  of  that  class  in  the train) has been earmarked for senior citizens, female passengers 45 years of age and above and pregnant women.
- iii. Exclusive  unreserved  coaches/compartments  are  earmarked for  female  passengers  in  EMU  (Electrical  Multiple  Unit)/DMU (Diesel  Multiple  Unit)/MMTS(Multi  Modal  Transport  System) trains  &  local  passenger  trains  depending  upon  demand pattern as well as availability of accommodation. Unreserved accommodation is also earmarked in unreserved trains running  on  suburban  sections  for  Divyangjans  and  Senior citizens.
- iv. Ladies  special  EMU/MEMU/MMTS  services  on  the  suburban sections  of  Mumbai,  Kolkata,  Secunderabad  and  Chennai  as well  as  on  the  Delhi-National  Capital  Region  (NCR)  sections are run.
- v. A  reservation  quota  of  four  berths  in  sleeper  class  and  two berths in 3AC has been earmarked in all trains running on nonsuburban  sections  for  Divyangjans  performing  their  journey  on handicapped concessional ticket. The person accompanying the Divyangjan as escort is also allotted the berth out of this quota.
- vi. Specially designed coaches known as SLRD coaches with wider entrance doors to allow a wheel chair to enter, wider aisles and modified toilet with 4 berths, the lower two for Divyangjans and upper  berths  for  attendants  have  been  attached  in  Garib  Rath Express trains for booking of tickets by Divyangjans on payment of full fare of 3 AC class.
- vii. Cancer patients and their attendant travelling on concessional ticket have been given direct access to the emergency quota in different classes subject to a specified limit.
- viii. Cancer  patient  quota  has  also  been  earmarked  in  certain identified trains.

Further  provision  of  reservation  related  facilities  to  different categories of passengers and its review/upgradation based on demand pattern and availability of accommodation is a continuous and ongoing exercise.

- (b)  to  (d):  Indian  Railways  and  Defence  authorities  work  in  a  close coordination to take care of rail travel related requirements of Defence personnel.  Following steps have been taken by the Railways in this direction: -
- i. Facility to book  reserved Railway tickets online has  been provided to Defence personnel.
- ii. On receipt of demand  from Defence Department, Defence Department  Quota  (DDQ)  is  earmarked  by  zonal  Railways  in different trains/classes keeping in view the demand pattern and availability  of  accommodation.  This  Quota  along  with  all  other reservation quotas are reviewed on periodical basis and adjustments made as per extant guidelines, wherever required.
- iii. In  case  of  bulk  demand,  extra  coaches  are  also  attached, wherever feasible, for journey of Security personnel. These are in addition to the permanent augmentation undertaken by Railways.
- iv. Coaches on Full Tariff Rates (FTR) are also provided on demand from Defence and Para military forces.
- v. Sufficient Emergency Quota has also been earmarked exclusively for  Defence  personnel  in  the  nominated  trains  passing  through North Eastern Region.

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