Lok Sabha Question No. 1406 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Overcrowding in General/Sleeper Bogeys
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Asaduddin Owaisi, Shri Murari Lal Meena, Shri Tanuj Punia, Shri Hibi Eden, Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1406 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## OVERCROWDING IN GENERAL/SLEEPER BOGEYS

## 1406 SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

SHRI MURARI LAL MEENA:

SHRI TANUJ PUNIA:

SHRI HIBI EDEN:

SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the data of passengers traffic in Indian trains since 2019;
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  tackle  the  problem  of overcrowding  in  passenger  trains  during  the  peak  and  festive seasons;
- (c) whether the Government has downsized the number of low cost passenger  trains  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government  proposes to add new  coaches  in passengers trains in order to tackle the problem of overcrowding;
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the Government is aware of the overcrowding in general and sleeper bogeys due to a reduction in non-AC compartments; and
- (g)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1406    BY  SHRI  ASADUDDIN  OWAISI,  SHRI MURARI LAL MEENA, SHRI TANUJ PUNIA, SHRI HIBI EDEN, SHRI SURESH KUMAR  SHETKAR  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  31.07.2024 REGARDING OVERCROWDING IN GENERAL/SLEEPER BOGEYS (a) to (g) The passenger traffic greatly varied from the year 2019 to 2024 due  to  COVID-19  pandemic.  However,  Indian  Railways  (IR),  operates various types of regular time-tabled trains e.g. suburban, short distance passenger  trains, long distance/Mail Express/ superfast trains with different composition catering to different segments of passengers. The extant policy regarding composition of Mail/Express trains, provide for 12 (Twelve) General class & Sleeper class non- AC coaches and 08 (eight) AC-Coaches, in a train of 22 coaches, thereby providing greater accommodation for passengers using General and non-AC Sleeper Coaches.  Of  the  total  number  of  Coaches  being  presently  utilized  for running  of  train  services,  two-third  are  non-AC,  and  one-third  are  AC variants. Additionally, Indian Railways have also started operating Amrit Bharat  services  which  are  fully  non-AC  trains  providing  high  quality services to the passengers.

Besides, IR constantly endeavours to provide additional accommodation  to  travelling  passengers  by  operating  Special  train services  during  festivals,  holidays,  etc.  During  2023,  527  Holi  Specials, 6369 Summer Specials and 4480 Chhatt/Diwali Specials were operated. Further,  loads  of  trains  are  also  augmented,  both  on  permanent  and temporary  basis,  to  cater  to  additional  demand.  These  are  on-going processes  on  Indian  Railways.  Furthermore,  keeping  in  view  increased demand, IR has planned to manufacture 10,000 non-AC Coaches including General Class and Sleeper Class Coaches.

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