In Pune, passengers who choose to travel by train, especially during festivals, are voicing concerns about the increase in general second class coaches leading to overcrowding and discomfort during their commute. Arun Kumar Mishra, a senior citizen traveling from Pune to Darbhanga in Bihar, shared his experience of encountering unauthorized travelers taking over the sleeper class compartment on his weekly journey. Mishra noted instances of passengers locking themselves in the toilet, causing inconvenience to others. Despite reporting the issue to the train ticket examiner (TTE), improper actions were taken, leading Mishra to seek assistance from Rail Madad to have the unauthorized passengers removed at Ahmednagar. With special trains being introduced for festive periods, passengers holding reserved tickets are apprehensive about unauthorized passengers occupying their berths. The increase in general second class coaches in upcoming trains is a cause for concern, as it provides an opportunity for passengers with general tickets to access reserved compartments. Officials from the Pune rail division assured that measures are in place to address this issue, including heightened ticket inspections and monitoring by railway personnel. Concerns were also raised by passengers regarding the common occurrence of unauthorized passengers unlawfully entering train compartments.Rajesh Doshi, a Pune resident and frequent train commuter, raised concerns about encountering numerous ticketless travelers while recently traveling on the Sinhagad Express in a reserved compartment. One individual even pretended to be a railway employee to occupy a seat. Doshi believes that the authorities are not addressing the issue effectively. Another traveler, Sagar Jadhav, who journeyed on the Ahmedabad-Pune Duronto Express last week, shared a similar experience of finding his reserved seat in coach DL1 occupied with people sitting on the floor due to overcrowding.

The problem of overcrowding is not limited to trains but also extends to platforms, as highlighted by passengers. In an attempt to improve crowd management and prevent overcrowding, the Pune rail division officials reportedly mentioned plans to install temporary waiting sheds for waiting passengers on the premises. Passengers complained about the inadequate seating, limited water supply, and absence of proper waiting areas at the station, leading to dangerously crowded platforms and posing a potential risk of stampedes.