Date:07/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/07/stories/2008090756050300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Scrapping of 3-berth system demanded

Staff Reporter

— Photo S. Rambabu

A view of a berth between side lower and upper berths in a sleeper coach of a long-distance train.

Kakinada: The Andhra Pradesh Passengers’ Association has demanded that the system of providing three berths between the side lower and upper berths in ordinary sleeper coaches and AC 3-tier coaches be scrapped immediately to put an end to difficulties being faced by passengers. With this the capacity of sleeper coaches had gone up from 72 to 84 each but the passengers were being subjected to misery, APPA founder president S.S Krishnaji said in a press release. He said that the three-berth system might fetch more income for the Railways but the officials concerned were apparently oblivious to the inconvenience it posed to passengers.

‘Defies logic’

Mr. Krishnaji said it was a measure that defied logic, like the issuing of two tickets to long-distance passengers two years ago.

Under this system, for instance, a passenger destined for Mangalore from Kakinada was issued two tickets, one from Kakinada to Madras and from there to Mangalore. It served no purpose except putting the passengers to hardship. However, after the APPA had protested against it, the two-ticket system was scrapped, he said.

Similarly, the three-berth system should be scrapped or else the APPA would file a writ petition in the Supreme Court to secure justice for the passengers, he added.