In Pune, travelers who opt for train journeys, especially during festivals, have expressed concerns about the addition of 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 with a confirmed sleeper class berth ticket, shared his experience of encountering unauthorized travelers occupying the compartment and causing issues like locking the toilet door from inside. Despite efforts by other passengers to resolve the situation, it took intervention from the Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) to resolve the matter at Daund. Mishra later reported the incident through Rail Madad, which resulted in the removal of the unauthorized passengers at Ahmednagar. With the Pune rail division introducing several special trains for upcoming festivities, passengers holding reserved tickets are worried about their seats being taken by those with general tickets or no tickets. The division plans to add more general second class coaches to accommodate the increased demand, with specific examples like the Pune-Malda Town-Pune weekly special train having eight such coaches out of a total of 19 coaches. Ticket checking staff and security personnel have been alerted to manage the rush and conduct proper checks to prevent unauthorized entry into compartments. Some passengers have noted that unauthorized entry into compartments has become a common occurrence."I recently travelled on the Sinhagad Express in a reserved compartment and noticed several passengers without tickets. One of them pretended to be a railway employee and took a seat. Pune resident and frequent train commuter Rajesh Doshi expressed concern that the issue is not being addressed effectively. Similarly, Sagar Jadhav, who recently journeyed on the Ahmedabad-Pune Duronto Express, shared that despite having a reserved seat in coach DL1, the coach was overcrowded with passengers, some even sitting on the floor.

The issue of overcrowding is not limited to trains but extends to platforms as well. In response to complaints, Pune rail division officials discussed the possibility of installing temporary waiting sheds on the premises to assist with crowd management and prevent waiting passengers from spilling onto the platforms. Passengers highlighted the lack of seating, limited water availability, and insufficient waiting areas at the station. This overcrowding was creating a safety risk, with concerns about potential stampedes occurring due to the congested platforms."