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New Delhi: Passengers were stunned to discover that the coach for which they booked their train tickets was missing. Scenes from Odisha’s Sambalpur railway station, were of disgust and confusion. The Sambalpur-Nanded Express arrived at the station without the AC-3 Tier coach and around 57 passengers were standing at the platform, clueless about the situation.

Train no 20809 entered Odisha’s Sambalpur railway station not without a seat but without an entire coach. For the time being, the passengers holding the confirmed tickets, were accommodated in available vacant berths of the train.

When questioned about the incident, the East Coast Railway stated that the reserved coach could not be attached to the train due to a technical problem. An extra TTE was assigned manual announcements were made, and RPF/station staff assisted in passenger boarding, report said.

“Passenger safety and comfort were given utmost priority, and the situation was handled promptly giving utmost care for passengers convenience,” he said. The train runs between Sambalpur and Nanded in Maharashtra.Following the chaos, a new coach was later added at the Visakhapatnam station to accommodate the passengers.

Railway mismanagement in India continues to surface through frequent delays, overcrowded trains, and inadequate passenger amenities. Poor coordination between departments and slow project execution often lead to safety lapses and operational disruptions.

Despite repeated announcements of modernisation, many routes still suffer from outdated infrastructure and weak maintenance. The gap between policy promises and on-ground delivery has eroded public trust in the rail system.