Indian Railways has introduced a new rule regarding general tickets, and millions of passengers who travel daily in unreserved coaches need to pay attention. The change is designed to reduce misuse, bring more discipline to passenger flow, and make the travel system safer and smoother.
Why Indian Railways Changed the Rule
For decades, general tickets have been the lifeline of the common man, offering the cheapest and most flexible option for travel. But this flexibility has also created problems overcrowding, ticket misuse, and confusion during inspections. The new rule has been introduced to bring clarity and balance to how these tickets are used.
What the New Rule Means for Passengers
The key change is that a general ticket will now only be valid for a specific train journey on the same day. Earlier, passengers could often use one ticket across multiple trains within a certain time frame, which led to overcrowding and misuse. Now, passengers will need to plan their journey more carefully and board only the train for which the ticket is issued.
Impact on Daily Travellers
Daily commuters and budget travellers will feel the change most. Those who rely on general tickets for short journeys must now pay closer attention to train timings. While this reduces flexibility, it will likely make general compartments less overcrowded and safer. For passengers on longer journeys, the rule ensures a fairer system where tickets are not exploited.
Role of Digital Platforms
To make the process easier, Indian Railways is encouraging passengers to use the UTS mobile app for booking general tickets. The app shows ticket validity clearly, prevents confusion, and saves time at counters. For tech-savvy passengers, this digital shift will reduce last-minute hassles.
Conclusion
The new rule for general tickets is a big step in Indian Railways’ effort to streamline unreserved travel. Though it reduces flexibility, it aims to bring order, safety, and fairness to one of the busiest passenger segments. For travellers, the message is simple: check your train schedule, buy your ticket carefully, and be ready to adapt to the change.