Indian Railways To Add 17,000 Non-AC Coaches In 5 Years; Aims To Make Travel Affordable For Budget Travellers

Indian Railways has now decided to make rail travel more affordable. It will add 17,000 non-AC coaches over five years. The move also aims to expand Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat rapid rail services to provide high-quality services for travellers with low income.

Indian Railways Plans To Introduce 17,000 Non-AC General Coaches

In a major development, Indian Railways plans to introduce 17,000 additional non-AC general and sleeper coaches over the next five years. The move aims to make travel affordable for people with low incomes. These coaches will focus on providing comfort and high-quality services despite being budget-friendly.

As per a report by NDTV, the percentage of non-AC coaches in trains by Indian Railways has increased by 70%. And that’s not all! A special manufacturing programme is also being implemented to produce additional non-AC general and sleeper coaches. Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on Wednesday that currently, around 70% of the passenger coaches are non-AC, which shows a shift towards meeting the rising demand for these coaches. The number of seats available for non-AC travellers is around 54 lakh, which accounts for 78%, while AC coaches make up the remaining 22%.

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Low-Cost Travel For Long Distances

Reportedly, the Minister of Railways also informed that 1,250 general coaches were already being used as long-distance trains during the financial year 2024-25. This is a strategy by the authorities to offer low-cost travel options for the poor and lower middle class, especially through mail, express, and regular passenger trains.

Not only that, Indian Railways has also launched services like non-AC Amrit Bharat Express and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, which promise high-quality services to a large majority of people from lower-income groups. The high availability of general coaches has also increased the number of passengers travelling in general/unreserved coaches. The trend has increased from 553 crore in 2022-23 to 609 crore in 2023-24 and 651 crore in 2024-25. The new 100 Amrit Bharat trains will also enhance non-AC services. They will include 11 general coaches, eight sleeper coaches, one pantry car, and two guard vans with facilities for the differently abled.

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All these new changes in Indian Railways, with the expansion of general class facilities, are part of a broader plan to make travel affordable and comfortable. What do you think of this decision? Let us know. 

Cover Image Courtesy: Indian Railways, Wikipedia/ Harshul12345