New Delhi, Jan 6 (NationPress) Indian Railways has marked a significant milestone with its record production of General and non-AC coaches, featuring state-of-the-art passenger amenities tailored to meet the increasing demand for budget-friendly travel options. This announcement was made by the Ministry of Railways on Tuesday.

To further enhance and modernize its fleet, Indian Railways has outlined a comprehensive coach production strategy for the current and upcoming financial years.

For the fiscal year 2025–26, which is nearing its conclusion, the production agenda includes 4,838 new LHB GS and Non-AC coaches. The target for 2026–27 stands at 4,802 LHB coaches. This initiative is focused on addressing the growing passenger demand while improving safety, comfort, and the overall quality of train services, as stated.

The Amrit Bharat Express trains, which are entirely non-AC, provide Sleeper and General Class coaches that facilitate quality travel at reasonable prices. In 2025, 13 Amrit Bharat trains were launched, bringing the total operational services to 30. Additionally, two Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services are now running between Bhuj–Ahmedabad and Jaynagar–Patna, enhancing regional connectivity.

Indian Railways is also bolstering ticketing integrity through Aadhaar verification and advanced technology to ensure that only legitimate passengers secure confirmed tickets. Only Aadhaar-verified individuals are permitted to book Tatkal tickets. Cutting-edge technology is employed to detect and prevent misuse of the e-ticketing system, resulting in the deactivation or temporary suspension of 5.73 crore suspicious IRCTC user accounts, with further actions ongoing.

Ensuring passenger safety remains paramount, with 84% of funds allocated for safety measures already utilized under the Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for 2025–26. Train accidents have decreased sharply from 135 in 2014-15 to just 11 in 2025-26 (up to November 2025), compared to an average of 171 annually during 2004–14. The safety budget has nearly tripled to Rs 1,16,470 crore this financial year, with fog safety devices increasing from 90 in 2014 to 25,939 in 2025.

To manage seasonal and festive travel demands, Indian Railways has significantly ramped up special train operations, achieving a record of over 43,000 special train trips in 2025. This included 17,340 trips for the Maha Kumbh, 1,144 for Holi, 12,417 Summer Specials, and 12,383 for Chhath Puja, facilitating smoother passenger movement during peak times.

Furthermore, Indian Railways has identified 76 stations nationwide for the development of passenger holding areas, following the successful launch of the Yatri Suvidha Kendra at New Delhi Railway Station. The holding area in New Delhi, completed in just four months, can accommodate approximately 7,000 passengers and is equipped with essential amenities like toilets, ticketing facilities, automatic ticket vending machines, and free RO drinking water. The upcoming holding areas will adopt modular designs tailored to local conditions, with completion aimed before the 2026 festival season to ensure seamless travel.