Indian Railways has rolled out a series of passenger-focused reforms for the Amrit Bharat Express, including the removal of the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) system, revised minimum fare norms, and changes to reservation quotas and refund procedures.
Under the new policy, the RAC facility has been discontinued, ensuring that passengers will no longer be allotted half berths after paying the full fare. Every confirmed ticket holder will now receive a full seat or berth, significantly improving travel comfort.
The Railways have also revised the minimum fare structure for Amrit Bharat Express services. Passengers travelling in sleeper class will be charged a minimum fare equivalent to 200 kilometres, while those in the general class will pay a minimum fare for 50 kilometres. In addition, reservation charges and superfast train fares will be levied separately. A rounding-off rule will also apply to ticket prices, meaning fares will be rounded to the nearest multiple of Rs 5 or Rs 10. For instance, a calculated fare of Rs 296 will be charged as Rs 300.
Preferential allotment of lower berths has also been introduced. Passengers travelling with children in sleeper coaches will be allotted lower berths, subject to availability, even if berths for children are not separately booked. Lower berths will also be automatically assigned, based on availability, to men above 60 years of age and women aged 45 years and above.
In terms of reservation quotas, only ladies, Divyang (persons with disabilities), and senior citizen quotas will be applicable in sleeper class coaches of Amrit Bharat trains. No other reservation quotas will be valid. For unreserved coaches, quotas will continue as per existing norms.
The Railways have clarified that tickets issued in lieu of concessional tickets or free passes that have not been reimbursed will not be accepted. However, duty passes will remain valid on the same lines as those issued for Mail and Express trains.
Changes have also been made to the ticket cancellation and refund process. To ensure refunds are initiated within 24 hours of cancellation of reserved tickets, payments will be accepted only through digital modes. Digital payments will also be preferred for tickets booked at counters. In cases where passengers are unable to use digital payment methods, refunds for cancelled tickets will be processed in cash as per existing rules.
The Railway Board’s Director of Passenger Marketing Coordination, Praveen Kumar, has issued official instructions for the implementation of these measures, which aim to streamline operations and enhance passenger convenience on Amrit Bharat Express services.