In Pune, train passengers, especially during festivals, are concerned about overcrowding caused by the addition of general second-class coaches, which hinders comfort during the journey. Arun Kumar Mishra, a senior citizen traveling from Pune to Darbhanga in Bihar, shared his experience of encountering unauthorized travelers in the sleeper class compartment despite having a confirmed berth ticket. Mishra described a situation where some passengers locked themselves in the toilet, causing inconvenience to others. He reported this issue to the Train Ticket Examiner (TTE), who took time to address the problem. Instead of asking the unauthorized passengers to deboard, fines were collected and they were allowed to continue their journey. Concerned by this situation, Mishra reached out to Rail Madad to have the unauthorized passengers removed at Ahmednagar. The increasing number of general second-class coaches in trains for the upcoming festive season has raised concerns among passengers with reserved tickets about unauthorized passengers taking their seats. The Pune rail division's Public Relations Officer, Ram Paul Barpagga, explained that the addition of general coaches could lead to overcrowding issues. He mentioned an upcoming weekly special train from Pune to Malda Town, which will have eight general second-class coaches among its total of 19 coaches. To manage the rush and ensure proper ticket checks, ticket checking staff, officers, inspectors, and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been alerted. Some passengers expressed frustration over the common practice of unauthorized individuals entering reserved compartments."I was recently on the Sinhagad Express in a reserved compartment and noticed several passengers without tickets. One individual claimed to be a railway employee and took a seat that was not his," shared Rajesh Doshi, a Pune resident who frequently uses the train. Sagar Jadhav, who traveled last week on the Ahmedabad-Pune Duronto Express, recounted, "Although I had a reservation in coach DL1, the coach was fully occupied, with some passengers even sitting on the floor."

Overcrowding is not only a concern inside the trains but also on the platforms. Earlier this year in April, officials from the Pune rail division mentioned plans to install temporary waiting sheds on the premises to manage crowds better and prevent passengers from overflowing onto the platforms. Travelers have raised issues about the insufficient seating, limited access to water, and the absence of proper waiting areas at the station.

The crowded platforms are posing a serious safety risk, with the potential for stampedes to occur.