Lok Sabha Question No. 4597 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Basic Amenities/Services in Unreserved Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rodmal Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4597 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## BASIC AMENITIES/SERVICES IN UNRESERVED COACHES

## †4597 SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  making  any  efforts  to  provide basic  amenities  and  better  services  to  passengers  travelling  in unreserved coaches of trains;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  passenger  capacity  of  unreserved  general  coaches  in the country;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  reserved  any  special  general unreserved coaches for women;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (f) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  advanced type of unreserved coaches for better passenger experience; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (g) Indian Railways have significantly increased the facilities  for  passengers  demanding  general/sleeper  class  travel.

During the last financial year 2024-25 alone, 1250 general coaches have been utilised in various long-distance trains. To  facilitate  people  travelling  by  General/Sleeper  class,  Indian Railways  have  also  taken  up  manufacturing  of  17,000  non  AC

coaches (General/Sleeper).

The percentage of non-AC coaches has significantly increased to about 70% as detailed below:

Table 1: Distribution of coaches:

| Non-AC coaches (general and   | ~57,200   | ~70%   |
|-------------------------------|-----------|--------|
| AC coaches                    |           |        |
|                               | ~25,000   | ~30%   |
| Total coaches                 | ~82,200   | 100%   |

Due  to  higher  availability  of  general  coaches,  the  number  of passengers traveling in general/unreserved coaches has shown an increasing trend as shown below:

Table 2: Passengers in general/unreserved coaches:

| Year    | No. of Passengers   |
|---------|---------------------|
| 2020-21 | 99 Cr (Covid year)  |
| 2021-22 | 275 Cr (Covid year) |
| 2022-23 | 553 Cr              |
| 2023-24 | 609 Cr              |
| 2024-25 | 651 Cr              |

The  number  of  seats  available  for  non-AC  passengers  has  also increased over the years. The current composition is as follows:

Table 3: Distribution of seats:

| Non-AC seats   | ~ 54 lakhs   | ~ 78%   |
|----------------|--------------|---------|
| AC seats       | ~ 15 lakhs   | ~ 22%   |
| Total          | ~ 69 lakhs   | 100%    |

To  provide  greater  accommodation  for  the  passengers  using General and non-AC Sleeper Coaches, the extant policy regarding composition  of Mail/Express trains provides for 12 (Twelve) General class & Sleeper class non- AC coaches and 08 (eight) ACCoaches,  in  a  train  of  22  coaches,  thereby  providing  greater accommodation  for  the  passengers  using  General  and  non-AC Sleeper Coaches.

Further, to cater to the needs of passengers desirous of availing unreserved accommodation, Indian Railways (IR) operate unreserved non-AC passenger trains/ MEMU  /  EMU  etc. for affordable travel, which are in addition to the unreserved accommodation (coaches) available in Mail/Express services.

Indian Railways have already provided General class accommodation  for women  in LSLRD/SLRD  coach which is attached in almost all Mail/Express trains.

## Amrit Bharat Trains

Indian  Railways  (IR)  has  introduced  fully  non-AC  Amrit  Bharat trains, presently comprising 11 General Class coaches, 8 Sleeper Class  coaches,  1  Pantry  car  and  02  Second  class  Luggage  cum Divyangjan Coach. These trains have been designed and manufactured to cater to the needs of general public by providing World-class  modern  and  comfortable  rail  travel  experience  to passengers of Non-AC segment.  IR has provisioned for production of 100 Amrit Bharat Trains.

High Speed and enhanced Safety standards are the hallmarks of these trains with following enhanced features and amenities:

-  Better  aesthetics  of  seat  and  berths  with  enhanced  look  & feel on the lines of Vande Bharat Sleeper.
-  Jerk Free Semi-Automatic Couplers.
-  Improved  Crashworthiness  in  coaches  by  provision  of  crash tube.
-  Provision of CCTV system in all coaches and Luggage room.
-  Improved designs of toilets.
-  Improved  design  of  Ladder  for  ease  of  climbing  on  to  the berth.
-  Improved LED Light fitting & Charging Sockets.
-  Provision of EP assisted braking system.
-  Aerosol based fire suppression system in toilets and electrical cubicles.
-  USB Type-A and Type-C mobile charging sockets.
-  Emergency  Talk  Back  system  for  two-way  communication between Passenger and Guard/Train Manager.
-  Non-AC pantry with enhanced heating capacity.
-  Fully sealed gangways with quick release mechanism for easy attachment and detachment.

Presently, 16 services of Amrit Bharat Trains are running in Indian Railway's network.

## Namo Bharat Rapid Rail

Namo  Bharat  Rapid  Rail  has  been  introduced  to  enhance  the travelling  experience  of  suburban  and  regional  commuters  for inter-city short distance movement by harnessing the features of Vande Bharat Trains. Namo Bharat Rapid Rail is fully unreserved train.

The prominent features of Namo Bharat Rapid Rail are as follows:

-  Centrally controlled Double Leaf Automatic Sliding Doors.
-  CCTVs for safety and passenger surveillance.
-  Modular  interior  with  Cushioned  Seats  and  Sealed  Flexible Gangway.
-  Emergency Talk System.
-  Continuous LED lighting with Energy Efficient Lighting system.
-  FRP Modular Toilets with vacuum evacuation.
-  Fully Air-Conditioned trains with Driver cab AC.

Presently, 4  services  of  Namo Bharat Rapid  Rails are running in Indian Railway's network.

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