Lok Sabha Question No. 600 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Overcrowding in Non-AC Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Zia Ur Rehman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.600 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025

## OVERCROWDING IN NON-AC COACHES

600. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  subscribes  to  the  view  that  the  Railways needs to address overcrowding, particularly in non-air-conditioned coaches on busy routes;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the Government in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the initiatives taken/being taken by the Government to accelerate the implementation  of  the  Kavach  Automatic  Train  Protection  System  in  a structured mission mode?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)    to  (c):  Indian  Railways  (IR)  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  cater  to  the  travel  demand  of  the  low  and  middle  income  families, Indian Railways have taken up 17,000 non-AC coaches (general/sleeper).

On  IR,  the  percentage  of  non-AC  coaches,  is  about  70%  as  indicated 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    | Nos. 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%    |

Moreover,  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, thereby providing greater accommodation for the passengers using General and non-AC Sleeper Coaches.

## Amrit Bharat service:

To  provide  affordable  means  of  transportation  to  the  low  and  middle income  families,  Indian  Railways  have  introduced  Amrit  Bharat  services that  are  fully  non-AC  modern  trains.  As  on  3.11.2025,  30  services  are already 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:

-  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.

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

By introducing Amrit Bharat Express trains, manufacturing of MEMU trains, and by executing a  special  manufacturing  programme  for  17,000  non-AC general/sleeper coaches, Indian Railways is committed to effectively cater to the travel demand of the low and middle income families who prefer to travel by Railways as an affordable means of transportation.

## Kavach Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System:

1.  Kavach  is  an  indigenously  developed  Automatic  Train  Protection (ATP)  system.  Kavach  is  a  highly  technology  intensive  system,  which requires safety certification of highest order (SIL-4).
2. Kavach aids the Loco Pilot in running of trains within specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so and also helps the trains to run safely during inclement weather.

3. The first field trials on the passenger trains were started in February 2016. Based on the experience gained and Independent Safety Assessment of the system by Independent Safety Assessor (ISA), three firms were approved in 2018-19, for supply of Kavach Ver 3.2.
4. Kavach was adopted as National ATP system in July 2020.
5.  Implementation of Kavach System involves following Key Activities:
- a.  Installation  of  Station  Kavach  at  each  and  every  station,  block section.
- b. Installation of RFID Tags throughout the track length.
- c. Installation of telecom Towers throughout the section.
- d. Laying of Optical Fibre Cable along the track.
- e. Provision of Loco Kavach on each and every Locomotive running on Indian Railways.
6. Based on deployment of Kavach version 3.2 on 1465 RKm on South Central  Railway  and  experience  gained,  further  improvements  were made. Finally, Kavach specification version 4.0 was approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024.
7.  Kavach  version  4.0  covers  all  the  major  features  required  for  the diverse  railway  network.  This  is  a  significant  milestone  in  safety  for Indian  Railways.  Within  a  short  period,  IR  has  developed,  tested  and started deploying Automatic Train Protection System.
8.  Major  improvement  in  Version  4.0  includes  increased  Location Accuracy,  Improved  Information  of  Signal  Aspects  in  bigger  yards, Station to Station Kavach interface on OFC and Direct Interface to

existing  Electronic  Interlocking  System.  With  these  improvements, Kavach  Ver.4.0.  is  planned  for  large  scale  deployment  over  Indian Railways.

9.  After  extensive  and  elaborate  trials,  Kavach  Version  4.0  has  been successfully  commissioned  on  738  Route  km  on    Palwal  -  MathuraNagda  section  (633  Rkm)  on  Delhi  -  Mumbai  route  and  HowrahBardhaman section (105 Rkm) Delhi -Howrah route. Kavach implementation  has  been  taken  up  in  balance  sections  of  Delhi  Mumbai & Delhi - Howrah corridors.
10.  Progress  of  key  items  of  Kavach  on  High  density  routes  including Delhi- Mumbai & Delhi- Howrah corridors are as under:
11. Further, track side Kavach implementation work has been taken up on  15,512  RKm  covering  all  GQ,  GD,  HDN  and  identified  sections  of Indian Railways.
12.    Bids  have  been  invited  for  equipping  another  9,069  locomotives with  Kavach  version  4.0.  Kavach  is  being  provided  progressively  in  a phased manner in locomotives.

| SN   | Item                                 | Progress   |
|------|--------------------------------------|------------|
| i    | Laying of Optical Fibre Cable        | 7129 Km    |
| ii   | Installation of Telecom Towers       | 860 nos    |
| iii  | Provision of Kavach at Stations      | 549 nos    |
| iv   | Installation of Track side equipment | 2674 RKm   |
| v    | Provision of Kavach on Locos         | 4,154      |

13.   Specialized training programmes on Kavach are being conducted at centralized training institutes of Indian Railways to impart training to all concerned officials. By now more than 40,000 technicians, operators and engineers have been trained on Kavach technology. This includes 30,000 Loco  Pilots  &  Assistant  Loco  Pilots.  Courses  have  been  designed  in collaboration with IRISET.

14.   The cost for provision of Track Side including Station equipment of Kavach is approximately Rs. 50 Lakhs/Km and cost for provision of Kavach equipment on locomotives is approximately Rs. 80 Lakh/Loco.

15.   The funds utilized on Kavach works so far up to June'25 is Rs. 2,015 Crores.  The  allocation  of  funds  during  the  year  2025-26  is  Rs.  1673.19 Crores. Requisite funds are made available as per the progress of works.

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