Elphinstone stampede aftereffects: Only sleeper, 3 AC free travel privilege to Railway officers

New Delhi : Being criticised for recent derailments and Elphinstone stampede incident, the Indian Railways has gone tough over the luxuries provided to its officials. 

According to a report by India Today, the railway ministry has asked its top officials to cut down on luxuries like executive class free travel and start travelling in sleeper and AC 3-tier classes to experience the problems of ordinary passengers.

The report mentions, "The railway ministry has decided that senior officers, including members of the Railway Board, general managers of railway zones and divisional railway managers (DRMs) in each of the 50 divisions, will undertake long journeys in these classes to get first-hand experience of the services and the problems passengers face."

The Railway ministry has apparently taken this step to learn about the first-hand experience passengers get while travelling in the trains.

"It has been decided that the board members, general managers and DRMs will undertake journeys in sleeper and third AC classes to take stock of the condition of coaches. At the same time, services like cleanliness and catering will also be assessed," the report quotes Anil Saxena, director general (PR), Indian Railways.