NEW DELHI: Following an announcement made in the railway budget for 2016-2017, the quota for senior citizens has been increased from the existing four lower berths to six per coach in Sleeper Class.

In 3AC and 2AC classes, three lower berths will be reserved for senior citizens instead of the present two. In Rajdhani, Duronto and AC Express trains, four lower berths in each coach will be reserved in 3AC class.

The increase in quota will come into effect on 1 April 2016. This was announced on Wednesday by Member, Traffic, Railway Board, Mohd. Jamshed in a programme held in the Rail Bhawan.

In 2015, the then existing quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper Class was enhanced to four lower berths per coach while the 3AC and 2AC quota remained unchanged at two.

The middle bay of each coach will now be reserved for senior citizens and women to ensure their safety. The onboard ticket checking staff have been told to take care of the handicapped passengers too. In December, 2008 it was decided that the six-berth compartment for women in sleeper class should be in the third bay of the coach.

First time the railways launched the reserved combined quota of two lower berths per coach for senior citizens, women above 45 years and pregnant women in all trains having reservation like sleeper, AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, in April 2007.

The condition of providing senior citizen quota only when travelling alone was relaxed last year. The facility of booking ticket under this quota was since then made available even when in a single application two passengers are in combination of Senior Citizens/Female Passengers above the age of 45/Pregnant women.