In Pune, passengers taking train journeys, especially during festivals, have expressed concerns about the addition of general second-class coaches leading to overcrowding and discomfort. Arun Kumar Mishra, a senior citizen travelling weekly from Pune to Darbhanga in Bihar with a confirmed sleeper class berth ticket, shared his experience of the compartment being occupied by ticketless or general ticket holders. Mishra described an incident where some passengers locked themselves in the toilet causing inconvenience, which was resolved after he reported it to the TTE. Despite fines being collected, Mishra sought assistance from Rail Madad to have the illegal passengers removed at Ahmednagar.
As Pune Rail Division introduces special trains for the upcoming festive season, passengers with reserved tickets fear their seats may be taken by those with general tickets. The Division is increasing the number of general second-class coaches in all trains to accommodate more passengers, raising concerns among passengers. Officials are ramping up ticket checks to manage the rush and prevent unauthorized boarding. Some travelers note that unauthorized entry into compartments has become a common issue.Rajesh Doshi, a Pune resident who frequently commutes by train, expressed concern about the increasing number of ticketless travelers on the Sinhagad Express. During his recent trip in a reserved compartment, he noticed one individual pretending to be a railway employee and taking up a seat illegally. He believes that this issue is not being addressed effectively. Similarly, Sagar Jadhav, who traveled on the Ahmedabad-Pune Duronto Express last week, faced a situation where his reserved seat in coach DL1 was occupied by others, forcing many passengers to sit on the floor due to overcrowding. The problem of overcrowding extends to not only the trains but also the platforms, which have inadequate seating, limited water facilities, and inadequate waiting areas at the Pune railway station. In response, railway division officials in Pune have announced plans to install temporary waiting sheds to improve crowd management and prevent overcrowding on the platforms, as the situation poses a potential risk of stampedes.
