Demand made for gen coach in exp trains

Mumbai: The Rail Yatri Parishad has demanded separate coaches in Western Railway’s (WR) express trains for commuters who hold monthly season tickets (MST) but are not allowed on the reserved coaches.

Commuters on the Palghar-Mumbai sector used to get into reserved coaches leading to quarrels with passengers holding reserved tickets. To prevent this, WR has been issuing additional stamp on MST that says that its holder is not eligible to travel in reserved, sleeper class coaches.

WR started affixing the stamp after receiving complaints from long-distance passengers about the encroachment of commuters into the reserved coaches. A WR official said, “We have received complaints from passengers about the encroachment by MST holder.”

Rail Yatri Parishad president Subhash Gupta said it was true that the MST holders were travelling in reserved coaches.

“WR should ensure a separate general coach to the passengers who are regularly travelling to Mumbai from Surat, Vapi and Palghar,” he urged.