Indian Railways To Go Stringent On Baggage Rules; Impose Fines Six Times The Luggage Rate
Representational Image: Indian Express
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Now, Indian railway passengers will have to pay for carrying excess luggage as the Railways has decided to implement its over 30-year-old baggage allowance rules stringently. The move was set in place after the Indian Railways received numerous complaints from passengers regarding excess luggage being dragged into the compartments.

The three-decade-old baggage allowance rules, which many passengers weren’t even aware of, will now see passengers paying up to six times the stipulated amount of money as a penalty if caught travelling with excess luggage, said an official to the Times of India.

Similar to airlines, the new railway rules mandate that extra charges will be applied for extra luggage. Additionally, one has to book excess luggage in advance which will be kept in the luggage van. Ved Prakash, a senior official of the Railway Board’s Information department was quoted by the PTI as saying, “The rules were already in place, we are just enforcing them strictly now.”


What are the baggage rules?

Railway Baggage
As per the Indian Railways, the following maximum limit free allowance, marginal allowance are admissible for carriage of luggage in the compartment. | Image Credits:
Indian Rail

However, officials quoted by Firstpost said that unlike at airports where each passenger’s luggage is weighed at a single point, the railways would carry out random checks. Further explaining, the officials said that if a passenger is travelling 500 kms in the sleeper class with luggage weighing 80 kgs, he can book excess baggage of 40 kgs for Rs 109. However, if caught with excess luggage without making the prior bookings, the passenger has to pay a penalty of Rs 654.

Passengers travelling in sleeper class and second class can carry luggage weighing upto 40 kg and 35 kg, respectively.

Similarly, a passenger travelling in AC First class can carry up to 70 kgs of luggage for free and a maximum of 150 kgs after paying a fee for the extra 80 kgs. While an AC two-tier passenger will be allowed to carry 50 kgs of luggage for free and a maximum of 100 kgs after paying a fee for the excess of 50 kgs.

Additionally, the railways will also ensure that trunks, suitcases and boxes adhere to the measurements of 100 cm x 60 cm x 25 cm (length, breadth, height) for personal luggage that can be carried in the compartments.

This new rule will be implemented through a special drive across all zones of the country between June 1 to June 6.

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Editor : The Logical Indian

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