Lok Sabha Question No. 247 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Sale of Excess Tickets for General Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Daroga Prasad Saroj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 247

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## SALE OF EXCESS TICKETS FOR GENERAL COACHES

†*247. SHRI DAROGA PRASAD SAROJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of passengers travelling per day by purchasing tickets in the general coaches currently being attached in Indian trains;
- (b) whether the Railways has data in percentage as to the number of tickets  sold  in  excess  as  compared  to  the  number  of  seats available in general coaches in a train;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the percentage of excess tickets sold in sleeper and AC coaches as compared to the number of seats available;
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  exempt  the  money  being collected  as  deduction  at  the  time  of  cancellation  of  waiting tickets sold in excess of as compared to the number of seats in Sleeper and AC coaches; and
- (f) if so, the amount of revenue being earned per day by the Railways on  account  of  cancellation  of  ticket  along  with  the  number  of tickets being cancelled per day?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 247 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

(a) to (f): Unreserved tickets are not train specific and the passengers can travel in any  train  going  to  that  destination  within  the  specified time limits subject to availability of coach of that class. It provides the flexibility  to  the  passengers  to  board  unreserved  coach  of  any  train going to the destination as per their convenience.

With a view to meet the demand of passengers travelling in unreserved coaches,  Railways  have  significantly increased  the facilities for passengers demanding general class travel. During the last financial year  2024-25  alone,  1250  general  coaches  have  been  utilised  in various long-distance trains.

To cater to the travel demand of the low and middle income families, Indian Railways have taken up 17,000 non-AC coaches (general/sleeper) over the next 5 years.

The  number  of  non-AC  coaches  have  significantly  increased.  It  is about 70% of the total coaches as detailed below:

Table 1: Distribution of coaches:

| Non-AC coaches (general and   | ~57,200   | ~70%   |
|-------------------------------|-----------|--------|
| sleeper)                      |           |        |
| 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. 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%    |

Given the above data, it is clear that Indian Railways is committed to the  low  and  middle  income  families  who  prefer  railways  as  an affordable means of transportation.

## Amrit Bharat Express:

Railways have developed a fully non-AC modern train named as Amrit Bharat  express.  Already  14  services  are  in  operation.  The  present composition of Amrit Bharat consists of 11 General Class coaches, 8 Sleeper Class coaches, 01 Pantry car and 02 Luggage cum Divyangjan coaches.

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

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

Development of Amrit Bharat Express trains, manufacturing of MEMU trains, and increasing the share of general coaches clearly shows that Indian  Railways  is  catering  effectively  to  the  demand  for  travel  in general class.

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. Standard Composition: 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)  AC-Coaches,  in  a  train  of  22 coaches. With  regard  to  reserved  accommodation,  the  number  of  reserved tickets issued depends upon the carrying capacity of the coach, the profile of the coach defined in the system, etc. Further, the demand pattern of reserved accommodation is not uniform throughout  the  year  and  it  varies  over  lean  and  peak  periods.  The trains running on popular routes and convenient timings are generally well patronized, however, in other trains, accommodation is generally available. Waiting  list  position  of  all  the  trains  running  on  Indian  Railways  is monitored  on  regular  basis.  In  order  to  cater  to  additional  demand, Indian Railways also operates Special train services and augments the load  of  trains  to  generate  additional  accommodation  for  different segments  of  passengers,  both  on  permanent  and  temporary  basis subject to operational feasibility, resource availability. Clerkage charge is levied on cancellation of waitlisted tickets as per Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Tickets and Refund of Fare) Rules 2015.  Moreover,  waitlisted  tickets  are  issued  to  take  care  of  berths

going  vacant  against  cancellation  of  confirmed/RAC  tickets  during advance reservation period. Further, waitlisted ticket passengers have also  option  to  get  upgraded  under  upgradation  scheme  or  shifted  to alternate train under VIKALP scheme. Amount credited on account of cancellation of tickets is not maintained separately.

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