Indian Railways to Enable Online Lower Berth Booking for Pregnant Women Through IRCTC

Indian Railways is moving towards making lower-berth reservations more accessible for pregnant women by introducing an online booking facility through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The change is intended to help expectant mothers request suitable seating arrangements without having to visit railway reservation counters in person.

The Railway Board issued an order dated September 28, allowing pregnant passengers to seek lower berths through both online and offline reservation channels. The move addresses a gap between the existing railway policy, which recognises pregnant women for lower-berth accommodation, and the digital booking system, which previously did not provide a dedicated online option for this category.

Online Reservation Facility to Improve Accessibility

Until now, pregnant women seeking lower berths generally had to approach a Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter to access the facility. The process could create additional difficulties for passengers who wanted to complete their travel arrangements from home.

Under the revised arrangement, the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC have been tasked with making the necessary changes to their booking systems. Once the updates are implemented, eligible passengers will be able to request lower berths through the online reservation process.

The decision follows legal proceedings in the Delhi High Court, where a public interest litigation raised concerns about the absence of an online mechanism for pregnant women to access the existing reservation benefit. The court had sought responses from the Centre, the Railway Board and IRCTC on the issue.

The latest order is intended to bring the online booking process in line with the railway policy and make the facility easier to access.

Lower Berth Quota Already Exists on Trains

Indian Railways already maintains a combined lower-berth quota for senior citizens, women aged 45 and above, and pregnant passengers. The number of berths available under this arrangement depends on the class of travel and the train's coach configuration.

The existing allocation generally includes six to seven lower berths per Sleeper Class coach, four to five in AC three-tier coaches and three to four in AC two-tier coaches. These figures may vary depending on the number of coaches in a particular train.

The lower-berth arrangement is designed to make long-distance journeys more convenient for passengers who may find climbing to an upper or middle berth difficult. However, availability remains an important factor, and the facility does not guarantee that every eligible passenger will receive a lower berth on every journey.

Pregnancy Proof and Compliance Requirements

Another important aspect of the revised policy concerns verification during travel. Under the Railway Board's order, pregnant women will not be required to submit a pregnancy certificate at the time of booking to request a lower berth.

However, passengers may still need to provide the required proof during their journey. Failure to produce the necessary documentation could lead to action under Section 138 of the Railways Act, 1989, as specified in the order.

Passengers should therefore pay attention to the applicable requirements and carry relevant documentation when travelling.

What Passengers Should Know

The online facility is expected to reduce the need for pregnant women to visit railway reservation offices solely to request a lower berth. Its practical availability will depend on the implementation of the required technical changes by CRIS and IRCTC.

Travellers should also remember that lower berths are subject to availability and that the new arrangement does not automatically guarantee a preferred berth.

The decision represents a step towards improving accessibility in railway reservations by extending an existing passenger benefit to digital booking channels. Once the system updates are in place, pregnant women will have a more convenient way to request lower-berth accommodation while planning their train journeys.