Patna: Indian Railways has announced a series of changes aimed at making journeys on the Amrit Bharat Express more comfortable, the most significant being the complete abolition of the RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) system. The move ends the long-standing practice of passengers being forced to share a berth, often referred to as travelling on a “half seat”.
Under the new arrangement, only confirmed berths will be issued on the Amrit Bharat Express. Railway officials said passengers paying the full fare will now be guaranteed a full seat or berth, allowing them to sit or sleep without inconvenience. The decision follows an order issued by Praveen Kumar, director (passenger marketing) at the Railway Board.
The revised rules also prioritise lower berths for specific groups. Men aged 60 and above and women aged 45 and above will be automatically allotted lower berths, subject to availability. Parents travelling with children in sleeper class will also be given preference for lower berths, even if a separate berth has not been booked for the child.
Changes have also been made to fare structures and distance norms. Passengers travelling in sleeper class will be charged for a minimum distance of 200 km, while those in general coaches will pay for at least 50 km. Reservation and superfast charges will apply separately. A rounding-off rule has been introduced, meaning fares such as Rs 296 will be rounded up to Rs 300.
In terms of ticketing rules, ladies, senior citizens and persons with disabilities will continue to have reserved quotas in sleeper coaches, but no other special quotas will apply. Concessional tickets and unreimbursed free passes will not be valid on the Amrit Bharat Express, although duty passes will be accepted in line with existing mail and express train norms.
The railways has also sought to promote digital payments for refunds. For cancelled reserved tickets, refunds will be initiated within 24 hours through digital modes wherever possible. While digital refunds will be encouraged even for counter tickets, passengers unable to use digital methods will still have the option of receiving cash refunds.
