Kolkata: Sealdah Division Opens Select Coaches of 'Matribhoomi' Women Special Trains to Male Passengers

KOLKATA — April 20, 2025: In a significant policy shift, the Sealdah Division of Eastern Railway has announced that male passengers will now be allowed to travel in select coaches of the ‘Matribhoomi’ Women Special local trains. The decision, officially announced on Saturday, aims to better utilize underused train capacity while still ensuring safe and comfortable travel for women.

Railway Authorities Confirm Mixed-Coach Policy

Senior Public Relations Officer Eklavya Chakraborty stated that while the number of dedicated women’s coaches in local trains has already been increased, data suggests that many Matribhoomi trains often operate with vacant seats. To address this inefficiency and balance demand across all passenger segments, some coaches of these trains will be converted into general compartments, allowing both men and women to travel together.

“This change ensures better accommodation for male passengers without compromising safety and comfort for women,” Chakraborty added.

Mixed Reactions from Passengers

The move comes amid ongoing protests by commuters at various Sealdah stations. Several passengers claimed that the expansion of women-only coaches had reduced the number of general compartments, creating hardship for male travelers during peak hours.

“We are not against women’s safety, but the number of general coaches is becoming too limited,” one daily commuter said during a protest outside Sealdah Station.

Railway officials responded by emphasizing that the new mixed-coach policy is a balanced approach that still maintains dedicated space for female passengers while making better use of overall capacity.

Efficiency, Inclusivity, and Safety at Core

The Sealdah Division clarified that not all coaches in Matribhoomi trains will be open to men. Only designated compartments will be reassigned as general coaches, while others will remain exclusively for women. The change is expected to ease congestion in general compartments and optimize seat utilization across the board.