Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha that the Standing Committee on Railways has recommended considering the restoration of fare concessions for senior citizens in Sleeper and Three-AC (3AC) classes.
New Delhi: A piece of relieving news is emerging for senior citizens traveling by Indian Railways. The central government is seriously considering reinstating fare concessions for senior citizens, especially in the Sleeper and Third AC (3AC) classes. This information was provided by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
He stated that the Standing Committee on Railways has recommended restoring the concession for senior citizens in Sleeper and 3AC classes, and the government is considering it. This concession, which was being given to senior citizens, was discontinued in March 2020 due to the Corona pandemic.
What did the Railway Minister say about the restoration of concessions for senior citizens?
When some MPs demanded the reintroduction of concessions for senior citizens in the Rajya Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw clarified that the Railways is striving to provide affordable services to all sections of the population. He mentioned that in the year 2023-24, the Railways provided a total subsidy of ₹60,466 crore on passenger fares. This means that an average passenger is already getting a discount of up to 45% while traveling by train, which is already a significant concession.
An example of an affordable service was also given
Giving an example, the Railway Minister said, "If the cost of a service is ₹100, the passenger only has to pay ₹55 for that service. The remaining cost is borne by the Railways." He also added that this general subsidy applies equally to all passengers. The Railway Minister also stated that currently, some categories are being given additional discounts. These include persons with disabilities, seriously ill patients, and various categories of students. These sections still receive special discounts on ticket bookings.
Through this statement, it has been indicated that the Railways is currently emphasizing adopting a uniform subsidy policy for every section, but the possibility of giving separate concessions to senior citizens is open.
The concession was stopped after the pandemic
- It is noteworthy that before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Railways used to give special discounts on tickets to senior citizens.
- Male passengers, upon reaching the age of 60 years or more, used to get a discount of up to 40 percent in all classes.
- Female passengers used to get the benefit of the discount from the age of 58 years, and they used to get a discount of up to 50 percent.
In March 2020, when train services were disrupted due to the pandemic, this concession was temporarily suspended. Since then, this facility has not been restored. The recent statement by the Railway Minister is a clear indication that the central government is considering restoring concessions for senior citizens, especially in the Sleeper and 3AC classes.
However, the final decision on when this concession will start, or what its rules will be, is still pending. But the Minister's statement in the Rajya Sabha has raised hopes that senior citizens may get relief again in the near future.
