An RTI query has revealed that Indian Railways has lost more than 1.27 crore linen items, including bedsheets, towels and blankets, from AC coaches over the past four years, highlighting the scale of theft and misuse on trains across the country.
According to the information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the missing items include lakhs of bedsheets, towels, pillow covers and blankets supplied to passengers travelling in air-conditioned coaches. The losses have been reported across different railway zones between 2022 and 2026.
Railway officials said linen is provided to passengers to ensure a comfortable journey, particularly on long-distance trains. However, a significant number of these items are either stolen or not returned after use, resulting in substantial financial losses for the national transporter.
The RTI data showed that bedsheets accounted for the largest share of missing items, followed by towels and blankets. Officials said replacing the stolen linen every year adds to the operational expenses of Indian Railways and puts additional pressure on maintenance budgets.
Apart from theft, railway authorities believe some items are also damaged beyond use or discarded during regular operations. However, officials acknowledged that passengers taking linen home remains one of the biggest reasons behind the rising losses.
The issue has prompted railway authorities to strengthen monitoring and improve inventory management at coach depots. Officials are also exploring better tracking systems and stricter checks to minimise losses and ensure adequate linen availability for passengers.
Railways has repeatedly appealed to passengers not to remove linen from trains, reminding them that the items are public property meant for the comfort of all travellers. Authorities said cooperation from passengers is essential to reduce unnecessary expenditure and maintain service quality.
The RTI findings have once again drawn attention to the challenges of managing public assets in one of the world’s largest railway networks. Every missing bedsheet, towel or blanket ultimately increases costs that are borne by the public exchequer.
