In recent months, a troubling trend has emerged on Indian trains, as social media platforms become filled with videos depicting ticketless passengers occupying reserved coaches. This widespread issue has become a source of significant inconvenience and frustration for passengers who have paid for their reservations.
One such video, shared by a passenger named Vijay Kumar on social media platform ‘X’, recently went viral, capturing a chaotic scene on the Brahmaputra Express at Patna Junction. The footage depicted the 3AC coach, intended for a limited number of passengers with reservations, resembling a bustling marketplace due to the overwhelming presence of unauthorized travellers.
This is AC-3 at 15658 BRAHMAPUTRA EXP at Patna Junction. My family and I had to fight to get into the train & then to get our confirmed seat. AC-3 has been taken over by general passengers. No one cares for any rule @RailMinIndia @AshwiniVaishnaw @narendramodi @NWRailways pic.twitter.com/sVmp2bWNFV
— Vijay Kumar (@_VIJAY_KUMAR) May 24, 2024
Mr. Kumar recounted the ordeal he and his family experienced, detailing the difficulty they faced boarding the train and securing their reserved seats. Expressing his frustration, he said, “The AC-3 coach has been taken over by general passengers. No one cares for any rule.” The video vividly illustrated overflowing aisles, highlighting the severe lack of space for ticketed passengers.
Further explaining the situation, Mr. Kumar revealed that although he had booked 8 seats for his family, only 6 were accessible due to the presence of unauthorized passengers. This flagrant disregard for regulations not only inconveniences paying passengers but also raises serious safety concerns.
These viral videos serve as a stark reminder of the inadequacy of current measures to prevent ticketless travel. The prevalence of unauthorized passengers in reserved compartments not only compromises the travel experience for paying passengers but also poses logistical and safety challenges.
As passengers share their harrowing experiences and express dismay over the lack of enforcement, it becomes increasingly apparent that urgent action is needed to address this pressing issue and restore order to India’s railway system.