The Data Point titled, “AC coaches rise at the cost of Sleeper and Second Class” published on November 22, 2023 argued that commuters may find it tough to get Sleeper and Second Class seats as they are being replaced with AC coaches. Also, given the wide gulf between ticket prices of the Sleeper and AC coaches, commuters may be forced to spend more, the article said. The arguments were made from the angle of the commuter.
On the other hand, why the Indian Railways is pushing for higher-priced AC coaches, a move that may hinder its social service obligations, merits discussion. The Indian Railways is in a tough spot financially. Unlike private concerns, the Railways cannot shy away from plying trains in uneconomic lines, nor can they increase the fare of the cheapest class too high.
Due to that the revenue generation from internal resources — such as ticket sales — made by Railways is dwindling at a faster pace. The internal revenue, which was already at a sticky wicket, was scarred further by the COVID-19 pandemic.
