In Pune, train passengers, especially during festivals, find the addition of general second-class coaches leads to overcrowding and discomfort during commute. Arun Kumar Mishra, a senior citizen traveling from Pune to Darbhanga in Bihar, experienced this firsthand. He had a confirmed sleeper class berth ticket but encountered numerous ticketless or general ticket-holding passengers taking over the compartment. Mishra shared an incident where some passengers locked themselves in the toilet, causing disruption until the TTE intervened. Despite Mishra's efforts, fines were collected from the unauthorized passengers instead of having them deboarded. Following Mishra's complaint through Rail Madad, the illegal passengers were eventually removed at Ahmednagar. Concerns arise among passengers with reserved tickets as the Pune rail division plans special trains for the upcoming festive season, potentially allowing unreserved passengers to occupy berths. The increase in general second-class coaches in all trains during the festive period heightens these concerns. In response to the situation, railway authorities are increasing vigilance and ticket checks to manage the rush and prevent unauthorized passengers from boarding reserved compartments, which has become a common issue.Rajesh Doshi, a Pune resident who frequently travels by train, expressed concern about encountering ticketless travelers, one of whom pretended to be a railway employee in order to occupy a seat in his reserved compartment on the Sinhagad Express. Another passenger, Sagar Jadhav, had a similar experience on the Ahmedabad-Pune Duronto Express, where his reserved coach was full of passengers sitting on the floor. This overcrowding issue is not limited to trains; platforms are also packed with travelers. In response to this, Pune rail division officials have considered setting up temporary waiting sheds to improve crowd management and prevent overcrowding on the platforms. Passengers have complained about inadequate seating, lack of water, and insufficient waiting areas at the station, which has led to dangerously crowded platforms and the potential risk of stampedes.