No Separate Quota But Priority to CAPFs in Train Travel Bookings, Railways Tells MHA

The Indian Railways has turned down a request from the Ministry of Home Affairs to consider allocation of reservation quota to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel along the lines of the allocation to Army personnel. CAPFs include the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

In a recent communication, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla conveyed the reply of the Railway Board Chairman. “The matter was taken up with the Ministry of Railways to consider allocation of reservation quota to CAPFs personnel on similar pattern as allocated to Army personnel, so that CAPFs personnel could undertake hassle-free journey to their hometown/destination and vice-versa,” Bhalla said, adding the reply of Railway Board Chairman Jaya Varma Sinha.

Sinha has said that instructions have been given to accommodate CAPF jawans on priority basis.

According to an official communication, Sinha said: “The Indian Railways deeply appreciates the contribution of CAPFs in ensuring safety and security of Indian citizens. CAPF personnel do face emergent and stringent conditions where they have to move at short notice in national interest for security purpose.”

“To facilitate journey of CAPFs personnel by trains, instructions already exist to give due priority to CAPFs personnel while releasing accommodation out of emergency quota on the requests received from them on this account. However, they have reviewed this matter and again instructed all concerned in field to accommodate the travel requests of CAPFs personnel to the best possible level,” the communication added.

The CAPFs want Army-like quota to travel as they get limited leaves and non-availability of tickets could eat into the time off. Due to operational reasons, especially in tense areas, leaves get sanctioned at the last moment post which booking tickets becomes an impossible task.

There exists a defence quota in Railways for Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force personnel. Using their ID cards, personnel can book tickets under this quota for different purposes.