In response to reports of overcrowding in trains and ticketless passengers occupying reserved coaches, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized on Friday that passenger safety is non-negotiable.
During a high-level meeting he chaired, Vaishnaw instructed officials to take measures to prevent train overcrowding.
“A comprehensive discussion on passenger safety and amenities was held. Special attention was given to avoiding overcrowding by identifying busy routes and introducing special trains for these routes. We also explored ways to enhance services and train punctuality,” stated a senior railway official who participated in the meeting.
The official added that ensuring the regular maintenance of equipment such as air conditioners, fans, and water coolers at stations is crucial, especially during the summer rush.
A divisional railway manager present at the meeting mentioned that the minister highlighted the importance of punctual train operations alongside passenger safety and amenities.
Regarding punctuality, Vaishnaw directed officials to analyze the root causes of train delays on certain stretches, as these detentions affect overall punctuality. The minister made it clear that such delays are unacceptable and stressed the importance of strictly monitoring and improving punctuality figures.
Social media has recently been inundated with videos showing ticketless passengers occupying seats or berths in reserved compartments. One such incident involved ticketless travellers on a premium Vande Bharat Express service, which went viral online and elicited a response from Indian Railways.
“The video, taken on the morning of June 9, showed ticketless passengers boarding the train at Lucknow Junction for its journey to Dehradun. They were subsequently deboarded by railway officials and the Railway Protection Force before the train’s departure,” informed Mahesh Gupta, public relations officer for Northern Eastern Railway, Lucknow division.
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