Indian Railways: Is the government considering giving discount on train tickets to the Railways? The government replied to this in Parliament on Friday.
Indian Railways: Whether the government is going to restore once again the facility of concession in tickets to senior citizens in Railways, a question was once again asked in the Parliament on Friday. In response, the government said that the railways already gives subsidy of up to 53 per cent per person on railway tickets. However, no clear answer has been given yet whether the government is making any plan to give concession in tickets to railway senior citizens.
Passengers get subsidy in tickets
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the Indian Railways subsidized passenger tickets to the tune of Rs 59,837 crore in the financial year 2019-20, which is an average of about Rs 1,00,000 per person traveling. There is a concession of 53 percent.
They get concession in tickets
The minister said that on top of this subsidy, concessions are being given to several categories such as Divyangjan, students and patients, but did not clarify whether the government plans to restore the exemption given earlier to those above 60 years of age. Has been
Will the government give discount to senior citizens?
Months after a parliamentary committee recommended restoring the concession on railway tickets to senior citizens, the minister was asked in a written question what was the government’s stand on the concession which was scrapped after the COVID-19 pandemic ? On the question of CPI MP Binoy Vishwam whether the Railways has taken cognizance of the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee to restore concessions in trains for senior citizens or not?
In his written reply, the minister said, “The Standing Committee on Railways, in the context of giving concession to senior citizens at least in sleeper and 3 AC… has advised to review and consider.”
Government gave subsidy
Vaishnav said, “The government gave a subsidy of Rs 59,837 crore on passenger tickets in the financial year 2019-20. This is an average concession of 53 percent to each person traveling in the railways. This subsidy continues for all passengers. This subsidy amount Apart from this, concessions continue for many categories like Divyangjan, students and patients in railways. This subsidy continues for all passengers.
Responding to another question by BJP MP Sushil Modi, the minister informed that on the revenue front due to concession in passenger fare to senior citizens during the years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively, about Rs 1,491 crore , Rs 1,636 crore and Rs 1,667 crore.
