**Executive Summary**
This document, released on December 5, 2025, outlines Indian Railways' provisions for Senior Citizens, women aged 45 and above, pregnant women, and Persons with Disabilities. It details policies for automatic lower berth allotment, reservation quotas, and accessibility features in trains, particularly on Vande Bharat and Mail/Express trains. These measures aim to enhance the comfort and convenience of these passenger groups during train journeys.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Lower Berth Allotment**:
* Automatic lower berth allotment for senior citizens, women aged 45 and above, and pregnant women, subject to availability, even if no choice is given.
* Earmarking of lower berths: 6-7 in Sleeper class, 4-5 in 3AC, and 3-4 in 2AC per coach for the above-mentioned categories.
* Lower berths are to be given on priority for vacant berths arising during the train journey to senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities or pregnant women (who have been allotted middle/upper berth).
* **Reservation Quotas for Persons with Disabilities**:
* Four berths in sleeper class (including two lower & two middle berths).
* Four berths in 3AC/3E (including two lower & two middle berths).
* Four seats in reserved second sitting (2S)/air conditioned Chair Car (CC).
* **Accessibility Features for Divyangjan**:
* Separate compartments earmarked for Divyangjan in almost all Mail/Express trains, equipped with wider doors, berths, compartments, larger lavatories, wheelchair parking, and grab rails.
* Integrated Braille signage for visually impaired travelers.
* First and last coaches of Vande Bharat Trains have provisions for wheelchair, Divyangjan-friendly toilets, and wider spaces.
* Modular ramps in Vande Bharat trains & Luggage cum Divyangjan coaches of Amrit Bharat.
* **Other Improvements**:
* Various types of coaches designed and developed to enhance safety and passenger experience have been provided.
* In reserved coaches, entry and exit doors are marked.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Senior Citizens, Women Aged 45+, Pregnant Women**
* **Impact:** Increased comfort and convenience during train journeys due to prioritized lower berth allocation.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required; benefit from the automatic allotment system.
**Stakeholder: Persons with Disabilities**
* **Impact:** Improved accessibility and convenience due to reserved quotas and enhanced facilities like dedicated compartments and Braille signage.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the reserved quotas and accessible facilities provided on trains.
**Stakeholder: Indian Railways**
* **Impact:** Operational changes to implement the allotment and reservation policies.
* **Action Required:** Ensure adherence to the new allotment rules and maintain accessible facilities in trains.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railways: The central entity implementing the policy regarding berth allotment and facilities for senior citizens, women, and persons with disabilities.
Divyangjan: Persons with Disabilities, a key beneficiary group of the policy regarding reserved compartments and special provisions.
Vande Bharat Trains: Trains with specific provisions for wheelchair access and Divyangjan-friendly toilets, covered by the policy.
Ministry of Railways
Subject to Availability, Even If No Choice Is
Given, Automatic Lower Berth Allotment for
Senior Citizens and Women Aged 45 and Above
6–7 Lower Berths in Sleeper, 4–5 in 3AC, and 3–4 in 2AC for
Senior Citizens, 45+ Female Passengers and Pregnant
Women
Separate Compartments for Divyangjan in Almost All
Mail/Express Trains
First and Last Coaches of Vande Bharat Trains Equipped with
Wheelchair Spaces and Wider Divyangjan-Friendly Toilets
प्रव तथ: 05 DEC 2025 4:27PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Railways continuously strive to provide various facilities for the convenience of passengers
including Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities. Some of the facilities extended to Senior Citizens
and Persons with Disabilities are as under:
1. Allotment of lower berths to Senior Citizens, Female passengers of 45 years and above
automatically, even if no choice is given, subject to availability.
2. Earmarking of a combined quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in Sleeper class, four to
five lower berths per coach each in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) and three to four lower
berths per coach in Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes (depending on the number of coaches of
that class in the train) for senior citizens, female passengers 45 years of age and above and pregnant
women.
3. Earmarking of reservation quota for Person with Disabilities and their attendants in all
mail/express trains including Rajdhani/Shatabdi type trains as under:-
Four berths in sleeper class (including two lower & two middle berths)
Four berths in 3AC/3E (including two lower & two middle berths)
Four seats in reserved second sitting (2S)/air conditioned Chair Car (CC)
4. Allotment of lower berths falling vacant in the train to senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities or
pregnant women (who have been allotted middle/upper berth) on priority.
Further, various types of coaches, which are designed and developed to enhance the safety and passenger
experience have been provided. In reserved coaches, entry and exit doors are marked. These signages with
'Entry' and 'Exit' are provided adjacent to Body Side Entrance doors. In general coaches, entry and exit can be
done from any of the doors.Additionally, Indian Railways provides a wide range of facilities for all passengers, aiming to enhance comfort
and convenience during their journeys, which includes:
1. A separate compartment earmarked for Divyangjan in almost all Mail/Express trains. These
coaches have wider entrance doors, wider berths, wider compartments, larger lavatory with wider
doors, wheel chair parking area, etc. Inside the toilets, additional grab rails on the side walls for
support and wash basin and mirror at a suitable height are also available.
2. For facilitating the visually impaired travellers, integrated Braille Signage i.e. Signage
superimposed with Braille scripts has also been provided.
3. Modern Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat and Trains have been designed keeping in view the needs of
Divyangjans. The first and last coaches of Vande Bharat Trains have special provisions for
Wheel Chair, Divyangjan friendly toilets with wider space etc. Further, modular ramp has
been provisioned in these coaches of Vande Bharat trains & Luggage cum Divyangjan coaches
of Amrit Bharat for easier boarding and de-boarding of persons with restricted mobility inside
the coach.
This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and
Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha
today.
*****
Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Manik Sharma
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2199435) आगंतुक पटल : 633
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