Delhi Indian Railways Introduces Reservation Free Travel on Key Routes Nationwide
In a major relief for millions of short-distance commuters, Indian Railways has rolled out a new initiative allowing passengers to travel without prior reservation in unreserved coaches on select intercity and express trains. The move is aimed at improving travel accessibility, ensuring affordability, and offering flexibility for passengers who often face challenges in securing confirmed tickets during peak hours.
The initiative applies to major routes such as Mumbai–Pune, Delhi–Jaipur, Hyderabad–Vijayawada, Lucknow–Varanasi and Kolkata–Patna some of the most congested rail corridors in the country. According to senior railway officials, the scheme will benefit daily travellers and those preferring spontaneous short-haul journeys, while also helping ease the load on long-distance reserved coaches.
Officials have clarified that not all trains are covered under the new unreserved travel category.
Passengers are advised to verify their train’s eligibility before boarding. Travelling without valid authorisation on non-designated trains may invite penalties or even removal from the train, the official added.The unreserved facility will initially operate on specific trains, including the Mumbai–Pune Superfast (7:30 AM departure), Hyderabad–Vijayawada Express (7:30 AM departure), Delhi–Jaipur Express (6:00 AM departure), Lucknow–Varanasi Express (7:00 AM departure) and Kolkata–Patna Intercity (5:00 AM departure). Additional routes such as Ahmedabad–Surat, Patna–Gaya, Jaipur–Ajmer, Chennai–Bengaluru and Bhopal–Indore have also been included under the scheme.
Railway authorities said the move is designed to promote greater mobility between neighbouring cities and make short-distance train travel more efficient and budget-friendly. Indicative fares remain nominal for instance, Rs 120 on Mumbai–Pune and Rs 150 on Delhi–Jaipur in general compartments making the scheme particularly attractive to working professionals, students and small traders.A senior official from the Railway Board stated that the unreserved travel initiative forms part of the national transporter’s broader strategy to democratise railway access and reduce dependency on long reservation queues. It also complements the government’s vision to improve last-mile connectivity and strengthen regional linkages.
Rail experts believe this policy could significantly improve passenger convenience and enhance rail utilisation during off-peak hours. However, they caution that adequate crowd management, enhanced safety, and coach maintenance will be crucial for successful implementation.This initiative marks another progressive step in Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to modernise passenger services while maintaining affordability. For lakhs of travellers who rely on the railway network daily, the ability to board without reservation within regulated routes represents a small but impactful change toward a more inclusive and accessible mobility ecosystem.
