Indian Railways offers concessions ranging from 10 percent to 100 percent in train fare to passengers in a total of 54 categories, including senior citizens. The Railway Board stopped all concessions during the Corona epidemic.
Discount in rail ticket fare for senior citizens: In its manifesto, Congress has tried to woo the senior citizens of the country by throwing concession in rail fares. As a social responsibility, Railways has been giving up to 50 percent discount in train fare to senior male and female passengers for decades. It was closed on 20 March 2020 during the Corona epidemic. By raising the issue of Railway Concession Card in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress is trying to attract a large section of the country towards itself.
Indian Railways offers concessions ranging from 10 percent to 100 percent in train fare to passengers in a total of 54 categories, including senior citizens. The Railway Board stopped all concessions during the Corona epidemic. Although after the impact of Corona subsides, concessions have been started in Railways in a total of 11 categories including four categories of disabled, patients and students, but fare relaxation is restricted in other categories including senior citizens. The demand of giving concession in fare to senior citizens has been raised from time to time by Railway Union, Experts and Parliamentary Committee. However, the government argues that it is giving 53 percent discount in rail fare to all passengers. That is, according to the train operating cost, a train ticket of Rs 100 is being sold for Rs 47.
Standing committee had suggested concession
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, headed by BJP MP Radha Mohan Singh, in its report presented in Parliament in March 2023, had suggested providing rail concessions to senior citizens without delay. The committee said that in view of the pandemic and Covid protocol, the Railways had stopped the concessions given to various categories including senior citizens. Railways gives 50 percent concession in train fare to 58 year old women and 40 percent concession to 60 year old men.
According to the committee, Railways’ revenue is back on track. There is a need to give concession in fare to senior citizens in AC-3 and sleeper class of trains, so that financially weak and needy senior citizens can take advantage of it. Railways should consider this issue in an emotional manner. The committee had also asked to implement it in August 2022.
Need to give rent discount
Former Railway Board Chairman Vivek Sahay said that there is a need to give relaxation in rail fares to senior citizens. Railways incurs a loss of Rs 1800 crore annually due to relaxation in all types of rail fares. Railways is the national transport of the country and is the main mode of transport for most of the common people. This is the right of seniors under social responsibility. After all, the government spends thousands of crores of rupees annually on welfare schemes.
The union wrote letters several times
General Secretary of Railway Union AIRF, Shiv Gopal Mishra said that among our main demands, relaxation in rail fares to senior citizens has been the main agenda. In this regard, we have written several letters to the Railway Minister and the Railway Board. About 800 crore railway passengers travel annually. Of these, nine crore railway passengers are senior citizens.
Railways gives concession in 54 categories
Railways provides concession in train fare in total 54 categories including senior citizens. This includes Prime Minister-Presidential Award recipients, senior citizens, sportspersons, artists, widows, students, deaf and dumb, blind, disabled, mental patients, handicapped travelers, sportspersons, artists, film technicians, police, army, paramilitary who were martyred while fighting terrorism. Widows of force personnel etc. are given 10 to 100 percent concession in train fare.
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