An RTI disclosure has revealed widespread theft of railway linen across the country, with the Ranchi Railway Division recording the second-highest number of missing items among all Indian Railways divisions. The Bikaner Railway Division topped the list.
Indian Railways supplies bedsheets, blankets, pillows and towels to passengers travelling in air-conditioned coaches as part of its on-board amenities. However, the RTI findings indicate that a large number of these items are being illegally taken away by passengers, resulting in substantial losses to the railways.
According to the report, more than 9.31 lakh linen items have gone missing from trains under the Ranchi Railway Division, making it the second-worst affected division in the country.
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Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of the Ranchi Railway Division, Shreya Singh, said the highest number of thefts has been reported from trains originating in Ranchi. Among the worst-hit services are the Ranchi-Purnia Express, Ranchi-Islampur Express and the Garib Rath Express.
These three trains alone account for nearly 48 per cent of all reported linen theft cases in the division, highlighting the scale of the problem.
Railway officials also noted that the thefts are not confined to passengers travelling in AC 3-tier coaches. Incidents have been reported even in premium classes, including First AC, where passengers have allegedly taken pillows, bedsheets and towels from coaches.
The railway administration said the recurring theft of linen causes financial losses worth crores of rupees every year and affects passenger services. Officials reiterated that railway linen is government property, and its unauthorised removal constitutes a criminal offence.
Passengers found in unlawful possession of railway property can be prosecuted under the Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act, which provides for stringent punishment, including fines and imprisonment upon conviction.
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