The Indian Railway Ministry has directed all zonal railway officers to strictly prohibit travel agents from making requests for train seat or berth reservations under the Emergency Quota (EQ), citing repeated misuse of the system.
In a recent communication to the Principal Chief Commercial Managers of all 17 railway zones, the ministry noted:
“Instances of attempts to get accommodation released out of Emergency Quota unauthorisedly have been brought to the notice of this office.”
To curb such practices, the ministry reiterated that EQ allocations should be processed only as per the established guidelines, originally laid out in 2011, and updated as needed.
Key directives include:
Travel agents are not authorized to request Emergency Quota seats or berths.
All EQ requests must be submitted in writing and signed by a Gazetted Officer.
Zonal offices must strictly adhere to existing EQ allocation procedures to ensure fair use of the quota.
The Emergency Quota is intended for genuine urgent travel needs, such as for government officials, medical emergencies, or military personnel. The ministry emphasized that any deviation from the standard process undermines public trust and the integrity of the system.
This move comes amid growing scrutiny of booking practices, with the ministry reaffirming its commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in train accommodation allotments.
