New Delhi. Keeping in mind the facilities of the passengers, the Indian Railways is taking new steps the next day. This time the Railways wants to allow common citizens to travel in low cost AC coaches. For this, the Railways has prepared a plan to convert sleeper and non-reserved category (unreserved) coaches into AC coaches.According to media reports, the Railways is planning to bring AC trains across the country through it, which will provide better travel facilities to the passengers at a lower cost. As per the information received from the officials, the upgraded sleeper coach will be called Economic AC 3-tier.
The AC 3-tier will have 83 berths instead of 72 berths.
According to the news published in the English newspaper Indian Express, the coach factory Kapurthala has been tasked to convert AC coach into sleeper coach.
Sources told the newspaper that these new economic AC 3-tiers would have 83 berths instead of 72 berths. Initially, these coaches will also be called AC-3 Tier Tourist Class. It is being told that the fare of these trains will also be cheaper so that passengers can travel in it. In the first phase, 230 such coaches will be produced.
Will cost up to 3 crores rupees
According to information from newspaper sources, the estimated cost of making each coach will be Rs 2.8 to 3 crore, which is 10 percent more than the cost of making AC 3-tier. However, due to high berths and demand, Railways Economic AC is expecting good earnings from the 3-tier. In addition, unreserved general category coaches will also be converted into AC coaches with 100 seats. Designs for these are being finalized.
Such a plan has been prepared earlier.
During the UPA-I government, there were plans to create economic AC 3-level coaches during 2004–09. At the same time Garib Rath Express trains were introduced, which were called AC economy class. However, the passengers talked about trouble during the journey. This caused the train to collapse. Later production of such coaches was stopped.