Indian Railways is grappling with a significant operational challenge as an investigation through Right to Information (RTI) applications revealed that more than 1.27 crore bedroll items have gone missing from its air-conditioned coaches since January 2022. This widespread theft, encompassing bedsheets, towels, blankets, pillows, and pillow covers, has resulted in an estimated financial loss of ₹104.51 crore for bedroll contractors.
Scale of the Problem: Millions of Items Disappear
The RTI investigation, conducted by The Indian Express, compiled data from 54 out of 69 railway divisions across 16 of the 18 railway zones. The findings indicate a concerning trend: linen thefts increased by 56% between 2022 and 2025. On average, approximately one in every 1,000 AC passengers reportedly walks away with at least one bedroll item at the end of their journey.
Face towels emerged as the most frequently stolen item, with 46.54 lakh units reported missing. This was followed by 41.13 lakh bedsheets, 23.59 lakh pillow covers, 12.95 lakh blankets, and 2.76 lakh pillows over the four-year period (January 2022 to May 2026).
Theft Hotspots Across the Network
The RTI replies highlighted that just 10 railway divisions were responsible for approximately two-thirds of all reported linen thefts. Bikaner division recorded the highest number of missing items at 25.76 lakh, with bedsheets accounting for nearly half of its total losses. Other significantly affected divisions included Ranchi (9.31 lakh), Delhi (8.21 lakh), Mumbai (8.17 lakh), Jodhpur (8.09 lakh), Ahmedabad (6.94 lakh), and Danapur (5.72 lakh). Jaipur, Sonpur, and Bilaspur also featured prominently.
While some divisions saw a dramatic increase in thefts, like Bikaner's jump from 2.99 lakh items in 2022 to 12.34 lakh in 2025, others like Delhi and Ahmedabad managed to reduce reported incidents by 79% and 83% respectively. Notably, Tiruchirappalli and Palakkad divisions reported no linen thefts.
Impact on Contractors and Staff
Despite the linen belonging to Indian Railways, the financial burden of these thefts often falls on the bedroll contractors and their staff. Contractors face deductions from their bills, which can significantly impact their profitability and even lead to contract terminations. A supervisor from one such firm in the Solapur division stated that a substantial portion of earnings is deducted to cover losses, citing specific recovery costs for each item (e.g., ₹198 for a bedsheet, ₹343 for a blanket).
Linen attendants, who are paid on a daily basis, also experience salary deductions. One attendant mentioned losing ₹2,000-₹3,000 from a monthly earning of ₹21,000 due to linen theft. This direct financial impact on frontline staff underscores the severity of the problem.
Railways' Response and Mitigation Efforts
The Ministry of Railways has acknowledged linen theft as a "serious concern" and stated that efforts are underway to prevent such incidents and take action against offenders. The Railways, however, has not found evidence of staff collusion in the thefts. The responsibility for accounting for linen rests with the agencies deployed for distribution, with cost recovery from their bills for any shortages.
To curb the problem, Indian Railways has implemented several measures:
- CCTV Surveillance: Installation of cameras in coaches.
- Coach Mitra App: Utilization of a digital app to track linen distribution and passenger boarding.
- Counselling and Verification: Providing guidance to bedroll attendants and conducting police verification of contractors' staff.
- Dedicated Staff: Some divisions, like Bhopal, have deployed dedicated AC Coach Attendants.
- Passenger Reminders: Instructions for passengers to return linen 30 minutes before destination, printed on linen packets.
- Legal Action: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in divisions like Bhusaval has declared stealing railway linen a non-bailable offense under the Railway Property Act, allowing for luggage searches of suspicious passengers.
These initiatives aim to mitigate the substantial financial losses and operational challenges posed by the persistent issue of bedroll theft across the Indian Railways network.