Indian Railways announces more reservation quota for women

New Delhi: To woo the female passengers more, the Ministry of Railways has decided to earmark more reserved accommodation in AC-3 tier of mail or express trains from April next year.

The ministry, in a statement, said, "A reservation quota of six berths in AC-3 class of all Rajdhani/Duronto/fully Air Conditioned trains (having 3 AC class) should be earmarked for female passengers, irrespective of their age, travelling alone or in a group of female passengers."

"In case of Rajdhani, Duronto and fully Air Conditioned/Express trains, the number of the berth to be earmarked under this quota in 3-AC is 4 lower berths per coach as against 3 lower berths per coach in normal Mail/Express trains," it mentioned further. The railways already provides reserved berths for women and senior citizens in each coach of mail or the express trains.

"In all trains having reserved sleeping accommodation, a combined quota of six lower berths per coach in sleeper class and three lower berths per coach each in AC-3 tier and AC-2 tier classes has been allotted for senior citizens, female passengers of 45 years of age and above and pregnant women specially," an official said. So, the new announcement adds more safety and easy commute to women passengers now with railways.

Even more, six sleeper class berths in the third bay of the coach for female passengers irrespective of age, travelling alone or in a group of female passengers are already been provided by the railways, adding, the quota of six berths in AC-3 class of Garib Rath Express trains. In case, if some or all of these reserved seats are not booked or availed before preparation of the first chart, then the seats will be allotted to solo women passengers on the waiting list.