Indian Railways to expand non‑AC general, sleeper capacity with 45 pc Subsidy

Indian Railways is prioritising affordable travel by expanding non‑AC general and sleeper capacity and providing an average concession of about 45 per cent per passenger to keep fares low, the government has said.

Around 70 per cent of coaches are general and sleeper class and additional general coaches include about 1,250 coaches in 2024–25 and around 860 in 2025–26, according to Ministry of



Railways.

Railways provides a passenger subsidy of approximately Rs 60,000 crore annually, with an additional Rs 3,000 crore subsidy for suburban sections such as Mumbai. 

Freight loading has increased from about 1,055 million tonnes in 2013–14 to around 1,650 million tonnes, making Indian Railways the second-largest freight carrier globally, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.