NEW DELHI: Senior citizens will now have increased quota of lower births with Indian Railways earmarking 90 reserved berths for them in a train.
The railways has decided to enhance senior citizen quota to six lower berths per coach in Sleeper class and three lower berths per coach in 3AC and 2AC classes. In Rajdhani, Duronto and fully AC Express trains, the quota in 3AC class will be four lower berths per coach as against three lower berths per coach in case of normal Mail/Express trains.
"There has been a demand for increasing quota for senior citizens and railway minister has announced in the budget so it was done accordingly. There will be 80 to 90 reserved berths available for senior citizens now," said Railway Board Member (Traffic) Mohd Jamshed.
The enhanced quota decision will come into effect from April 1 this year. Besides senior citizens, female passengers above 45 years of age and pregnant women are also eligible to avail the enhanced quota.
The concept of reserved quota for senior citizen was introduced in 2007 and in 2015, the existing quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper class was enhanced to four lower berths per coach.
The condition of providing this quota only when travelling alone was relaxed last year and now the facility of booking ticket under this quota is available even when in a single application two passengers are in combination of senior citizens, female passengers above the age of 45 and pregnant women.