Passengers slam Central Rly move to cut sleeper, increase AC coaches

Nagpur: Middle class passengers are feeling the heat after a drop in the number of sleeper class coaches in mail and express trains. Passengers have slammed Indian Railways for poor capitalist mentality by curtailing sleeper coaches in Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto (12289-12290) and Amravati-Mumbai Express (12111-12112).
The Duronto runs with a LHB rake and has 23 coaches. The premium train used to have one AC-I, three AC-II, nine AC-III, eight sleeper class coaches, one brake van, and a generator van.

However, from June 15, the train is operating with only two sleeper class coaches. The remaining six sleeper coaches have been replaced with AC-III tier coaches, making the train an elite class. Similarly, Amravati-Mumbai Express will also have only two sleeper-class coaches now.
Rail Yatri Sangh (RYS) founder Brij Bhushan Shukla, who raised the issue in March with BJP leaders, including Union minister Nitin Gadkari and others, said, “The railway minister has also not paid heed to Gadkari’s request not to implement the decision, which will hit the common man hard.”
“Passengers from the state’s second capital with VVIPs at the helm don’t deserve such treatment. People will give a befitting reply to the BJP government in the coming elections,” said Vilas Ramteke, a professor at Mumbai University.
“The change in the composition of Amravati Express has hit the common man hard. A sleeper class ticket to Mumbai from Akola costs ₹450, while AC-III costs over ₹950. Middle class families or unemployed youth who travel to Mumbai for interviews or medical treatment cannot afford AC-III travel. The number of sleeper class coaches needs to be restored at the earliest,” said Shahid Iqbal of Akola.
Iqbal said in the last four days Amravati Express is running full, and the waiting list has swelled to over 20. “Passengers having confirmed reservation from Akola to Mumbai are also unable to board the train as waitlisted passengers are already occupying the two sleeper coaches from Amravati itself. This is a mockery of the middle class,” he added.
Shukla also echoed the same feelings, “A sleeper class ticket from Nagpur to Mumbai costs around ₹600 while for AC-III it comes to ₹1,800 one way. Not all travellers are so rich to pay an additional ₹1,200 for AC-III travel. Duronto Express is no more a premium train, it has become a necessity due to its favourable timings.”
Ramteke said, “It is the failure of our local leaders that they don’t stand with the people. As there are few jobs in Nagpur, many engineering graduates travel in Duronto to appear for interviews in Mumbai. Secondly, since staying in Mumbai is costly, those from the city already employed there cannot afford to live with their families and travel every 15 days. These are not the rich who can afford to travel in AC-III.”
Though Central Railway officials were not ready to comment since the decision was taken at the top level, it is obvious that the move is a ploy to generate more revenue. They told TOI that in the near future sleeper class coaches of Nagpur-Pune, Sewagram, Vidarbha, Prerna, and Maharashtra Express trains will also be curtailed.
“In 2024, the BJP will face general, assembly as well as civic elections in the state. Any such anti-people decisions will harm the party’s interest,” said Shukla.