The following news clip from times of India seems relevant for the subject we are discussing, Common Man's ordeals. Let me reproduce it, unedited, whole hog, picked up as is where is:-
Common man's ordeal in train
Allahabad: Though Indian Railways proudly claims serving customers with a smile, but the way ordinary passengers have to travel in the general coaches speaks volumes about their ordeal during the journey. While some passengers eagerly try to occupy every inch of the general coach, some can be seen dangerously perched on the footboards of the compartment. Even the little space of the toilet is occupied.
Though travelling in the packed general coaches is itself a nightmare, the gruelling summer heat has further compounded the miseries of passengers. In fact, passengers drenched in sweat have become a common scene in the general compartments.
Though only four to five persons can be seated comfortably on the lower berth of a general coach, but owing to paucity of space about ten persons can often been seen adjusting on a single berth. Some passengers make their space at the upper berth, The less fortunate ones have to settle for the place available between the berths and corridors. The adventurous ones occupy the little space left at the doors. Some excited ones can also be seen perched on the footboards of the train risking their lives. And, all this happens under the watchful eyes of the GRP and RPF personnel.
About 200 trains pass daily through the Allahabad railway junction including mail/express and passenger trains. There are roughly four to five general coaches in the trains. Two are attached at the front side of the train while other two coaches are augmented at the rear. Though about 100 passengers can travel properly in one general coach, but during summer rush this figure soars to 250-300 persons in each general coach.
The scene at the booking counters of Allahabad railway junction is no different. Long queues of passengers can be seen at the booking counters, which too are opened round the clock for the convenience of travellers.
It is not that the Indian Railways is performing any social obligations to include the coaches for general passengers in the trains. Instead, Railways is earning comprehensively on account of the passengers travelling in these compartments. Pointedly, the earning of the Railways increases considerably in May and June since this is the peak season for travelling.
A look at the earnings of Allahabad railway station during the first ten days of June would suffice to understand the burgeoning profits being earned by selling the unreserved tickets being sold through UTS counters. Railways has registered an earning of about Rs 2.37 crore during the first ten days of June itself at Allahabad station. However, the profit reaped has not translated into better facilities for passengers travelling in the general coaches.
Meanwhile, senior railway officials refused to speak on the issue stating that the matter was not within their purview and rested with the Railway Board, a railway official said if quota can be fixed for passengers travelling in the general compartments, then crowding in these coaches can be checked.
Other railway official stressed that trains consisting entirely of general compartments should be run so that woes of passengers can be reduced. "There is imperative need for plying more Jan Sadharan trains which comprises general compartments," said an official.
There is also a provision in the Railway Act that ticket should only be provided when there is availability of seats. But it seems that even the Railways is unaware about the provisions of this Act.
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