Lok Sabha Question No. 466 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Overcrowding in  Passenger Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Imran Masood

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 466

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## OVERCROWDING IN PASSENGER TRAINS

## †466. SHRI IMRAN MASOOD:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the data of passengers travelling in Indian Railways since 2019, year and class-wise;
- (b) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to address the problem of overcrowding in passenger trains;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  reduced  the  number  and capacity of budget-friendly passenger trains;
- (d)
- if so, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  add  some  new coaches  in  the  passenger  trains  to  address  the  issue  of overcrowding in the general coaches in the trains; and
- (f)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f) : During last 6 years (2019-20 to 2024-25), total 3,349 Cr. Passengers  travelled  in  Indian  Railways  which  included  418  Cr. reserved  and  2,931  Cr.  unreserved  class  passengers  (2020-21  & 2021-22 were COVID years).

On Indian Railways, the occupancy pattern of trains is not uniform throughout  the  year,  and  it  varies  over  lean  and  peak  periods. During peak rush periods, the occupancy of the trains, especially on popular routes, remains full whereas during lean periods and on less popular routes, there is sub optimal utilization.

Traffic pattern of the trains running on Indian Railways is monitored on regular basis and to cater to additional demand, load of existing trains are augmented,  special  trains  are  run, new  trains are introduced, frequency of existing trains is increased etc. subject to operational feasibility, availability of resources etc.

Accordingly, during the years 2024 and 2025 around 13,500 trips of special  trains  each  year  were  operated to  meet  the  extra  rush  of passengers during Holi and Summer vacation. To cater to the rush during Durga Pooja/Deepawali/Chhath,  7,990 trips of Special trains were operated during the period 1st October,2024 to 30th November, 2024, to  serve approximately 1.8 crore passengers.

With a view  to facilitate the passengers  during  the  recently concluded Maha Kumbh, IR operated more than 17,300 trains during the period 13th January, 2025 to 28th February, 2025, which served approximately 4.24 crore passengers.

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 longdistance trains.

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 sleeper)   | ~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%    |

Railways  have  developed  a  fully  non-AC  modern  train  named  as Amrit Bharat express.  Already 14 services are in operation.  These modern trains have advanced features like Semi-Permanent couplers  for  jerk  free  travel,  horizontal  sliding  windows,  foldable snack tables and bottle  holders,  mobile  holders  etc.   These  trains comprise 8 Sleeper Class coaches and 11 General Class coaches.

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.

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.

Over and above the current high share of non-AC coaches (~70% of total  coaches),  Railways  is  executing  a  special  manufacturing programme  for  17,000  non-AC  general/sleeper  coaches  over  the next 5 years.

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