Railways examines removing RAC facility for train passengers
The move follows concerns regarding full fare charges for passengers who receive only half a sleeping berth.
The Indian Railways is considering the removal of the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) facility, according to a report by The Times of India.
Under the current system, two travellers share one berth and are required to pay the complete ticket price despite receiving only half the sleeping space.
An official stated that charging full fare when a passenger does not receive a full berth may not be appropriate.
The RAC system also causes discomfort when a single seat is assigned to both a male and a female passenger, creating difficulties for ticket examiners.
A parliamentary panel has also questioned the rationale of charging full fares for RAC tickets and recommended a review to ensure passengers receive proper benefits.
The RAC provision was originally introduced during the era of manual ticket reservations before electronic systems could dynamically track vacant berths.