Indian Railways has officially clarified its policy regarding the allocation of lower berths to ensure travel comfort for specific categories of passengers. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently detailed how the automated Passenger Reservation System (PRS) prioritizes berth requests based on age, gender, and physical requirements. These measures are designed to assist vulnerable passengers by ensuring they are not unnecessarily assigned upper or middle berths during the booking process.
Key takeaways from the official clarification include:
* Priority groups: Senior citizens, pregnant women, and Divyang (differently-abled) passengers receive automatic preference for lower berths.
* Automated system: The PRS software is programmed to assign lower berths to eligible passengers even if they do not manually select the option.
* Fixed quotas: Specific lower berth quotas exist, typically 6-8 in Sleeper class, 4-5 in 3AC, and 3-4 in 2AC.
* TTE authority: After a train departs, ticket checking staff can reallocate vacant lower berths to Divyang passengers who were initially assigned upper or middle berths.
Understanding Booking and Allocation Rules
To benefit from these automated preferences, passengers must accurately enter their age and category during the booking process. The system is particularly optimized to assist when one or two senior citizens are booked on the same PNR. While the system works automatically, availability remains a factor, as the number of reserved lower berths varies depending on the specific train and coach configuration.
Beyond booking priorities, Indian Railways also maintains guidelines for the daily use of berths. Middle berths are required to be folded down between 6 AM and 10 PM, but the rules allow for exceptions. If an elderly or pregnant passenger requires the middle berth to remain folded during these hours, they can seek mutual consent from the passenger assigned to the middle berth to ensure a more comfortable journey.
Furthermore, the railway administration has introduced specific seat allocations for senior citizens in select general compartments to provide additional relief. By ensuring that passenger data is entered correctly at the time of reservation, travelers can maximize their chances of securing a lower berth through the automated system, reducing the need for last-minute requests to the TTE.