Railways Caps Waiting Lists at 25%, Sparking Debate
Indian Railways has implemented a new policy capping passenger waiting lists at 25% of a train's class capacity, a move experts and some officials criticize as impractical and potentially loss-making. The Ministry of Railways says the decision is based on data showing less than a quarter of waitlisted passengers typically get confirmed seats. However, critics argue the cap will obscure true travel demand, hinder the planning of special trains, and might not reduce crowding as intended.
Unpacked:
Passengers with waitlisted tickets are now barred from traveling in Sleeper and AC coaches and can only use unreserved coaches. This restricts travel options for those who previously boarded reserved coaches with waitlisted tickets, making travel less certain and potentially less comfortable for many passengers.
Passengers found traveling in Sleeper class with a waiting list ticket face fines up to ₹250, while those in AC class face fines up to ₹440. Additionally, violators may have to pay the fare from their boarding point to the next station. Ticket examiners are instructed to strictly enforce these rules.
Critics argue that capping the waiting list at 25% may mask true passenger demand, making it harder for Indian Railways to identify routes with excess demand and plan additional or special trains accordingly, potentially leading to missed opportunities to address peak travel needs.
Other changes include shortening the Advance Reservation Period from 120 to 60 days and requiring One-Time Password (OTP) verification for all online ticket bookings. These measures aim to improve booking security and reduce the risk of ticket misuse.