New Delhi: Indian Railways will soon enforce stricter baggage rules, introducing airport-style checks for train passengers. The system will first be launched as a pilot project in the Prayagraj division, where luggage will be weighed at stations before passengers are allowed entry onto platforms. Excess baggage will invite fines.
The pilot will cover major stations including Prayagraj Junction, Prayagraj Chheoki, Subedarganj, Kanpur Central, Mirzapur, Tundla, Aligarh Junction, Govindpuri, and Etawah. For this, electronic weighing machines are being installed at entry points.
New luggage allowance by class of travel:
- First AC: 70 kg
- Second AC: 50 kg
- Third AC: 40 kg
- Sleeper Class: 40 kg
- General/Second Sitting: 35 kg
Passengers can carry an extra 10 kg without prior booking. Beyond that, baggage must be declared at the station’s luggage counter. If not, passengers will have to pay 1.5 times the standard luggage rate as penalty.
Railway officials said the policy is aimed at reducing congestion in coaches and improving travel safety. Overloaded compartments often delay boarding and pose risks during emergencies. The new baggage checks, they added, will make train journeys smoother and more comfortable.
