Capacity constraint

Railways should address demand-supply mismatch

Visuals that have emerged of overcrowding at platforms and on India’s long-distance trains around the Diwali weekend have shocked many. The rush, both on and outside the trains, was reminiscent of the peak hour in the Mumbai suburban rail network — except these were for intercity and interstate trains. On social media, many passengers who held confirmed tickets and seat reservations complained they could not access their seats or even enter trains, which were overrun with unreserved passengers. Indian Railways has claimed this is because of the extraordinary rush associated with both Diwali and Chhath Puja. Many migrants from the