Ministry Of Railways 

Procedure for EQ (Emergency Quota) in Railway Reservation

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Procedure for EQ (Emergency Quota) in Railway Reservation

Release of Berths Under Emergency Quota

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 4606

ANSWERED ON 06.04.2025

Release of Berths Under Emergency Quota

4606 Shri Partap Singh Bajwa

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :-

(a) the procedure laid down for release of berths/seats out of the emergency quota earmarked in various trains;

(b) whether cases of corruption in confirmation of emergency quota tickets by touts, allegedly in collusion with Railway officials posted in Emergency Quota Cell (EQC) have been received;

(c) if so, the details of the enquiry conducted and persons found guilty during the last three year, Zone-wise; and

(d) the locations where EQC have been set up including the number of officials posted in each of these Cells?
ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4606 BY SHRI PARTAP SINGH BAJWA ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 06.04.2018 REGARDING RELEASE OF BERTHS UNDER EMERGENCY QUOTA

(a): In order to meet the urgent travel requirements of High Official Requisition (HOR) holders, which includes Central Government Ministers, Judges of Hon’ble Supreme Court/High Courts of various States, Members of Parliament and other emergent demands, who are on the waiting list, a limited number of berths have been earmarked as Emergency Quota in different trains and in different classes. The quota is released by the Railways in accordance with the priority as per warrant of precedence and well established practice being followed since long. At the time of allotment of berths/seats, emergency quota is first allotted for self travel of HOR holders/Members of Parliament, etc., strictly as per their inter-se seniority in warrant of precedence. Thereafter, other requisitions received from various quarters are considered and the remaining quota is released taking into account various factors like status of passengers travelling, nature of urgency like travelling on government duty, bereavement in the family, sickness, job interview, etc.

(b): No, Sir.

(c): Does not arise.

(d): Emergency Quota Cells are located at Zonal/Divisional Headquarters and at some of the important non-Headquarter stations. These Cells normally function under the control of a gazetted officer supported by requisite number of staff posted by Zonal Railways. The number of staff posted in each such Cell varies according to the workload.

Here’s a detailed explanation of the Emergency Quota (EQ) reservation procedure in Indian Railways:

🚨 What is EQ (Emergency Quota)?

Emergency Quota (EQ) is a special quota of seats/berths earmarked in trains for exigencies like:

  • Medical emergencies
  • VIP movement
  • Railway staff or officials on duty
  • Defense personnel
  • Parliamentary/ministerial references
  • Other critical public service needs

It is not open to the general public through online booking but is processed manually by railway authorities.

📝 Who Can Apply for EQ?

  • Government employees (Central/State/Defense)
  • Medical emergencies requiring urgent travel
  • MPs/MLAs or other VIP references
  • Railway staff on duty
  • Students appearing for urgent exams/interviews
  • Citizens in extreme emergencies (on merit)

🛠️ Procedure to Apply for Emergency Quota (EQ) Booking

✅ Step-by-Step Process:

Step Description
1. Visit the Divisional Railway Office (DRM Office) Go to the Chief Reservation Supervisor (CRS) or Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) in your city/nearest junction.
2. Fill Out EQ Application Form Includes passenger details, train number/date, reason, medical documents (if any), and ID proof.
3. Attach Supporting Documents Examples: Doctor’s certificate (medical case), appointment letter (interview), government ID, or official reference letter.
4. Submit Application Submit it at the EQ counter (usually at major junction stations or divisional headquarters).
5. Approval Approval is at the discretion of the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) or designated officer.
6. Collect Ticket If approved, you’ll be issued a confirmed ticket via PRS. Sometimes you’re asked to pay the fare after approval.

📌 Points to Remember

  • EQ seats are limited (usually 1–2 per coach in important trains).
  • Approval is not guaranteed – it’s based on merit and urgency.
  • EQ can only be requested at designated PRS counters, not online via IRCTC.
  • Usually, only 24–48 hours before departure is when EQ is considered.
  • You can also approach station masters at smaller stations for forwarding urgent requests to HQ.

📎 Sample Documents Required

  • Valid Photo ID
  • Doctor’s note (for medical emergencies)
  • Copy of train ticket (if booked and on WL)
  • Application letter mentioning urgency
  • Reference letters (if applicable)

🛡️ Tips for Getting EQ Approved

  • Be genuine and clear about the emergency.
  • Provide as much documentation as possible.
  • Avoid agents or unofficial channels – EQ is strictly manual and monitored.

🔗 Useful Contacts

  • Divisional Railway Manager’s Office (DRM Office) of your nearest division
  • Chief Reservation Supervisor (CRS) of the main station
  • For South India: You may contact Southern Railway HQ – Chennai
  • For North India: Northern Railway HQ – New Delhi

If you’d like a sample EQ request letter, I can draft one for you. Let me know!

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