A new update has come from the government on the special discount given to senior citizens and other categories of passengers in railway fares. Amidst the demands to restore the special discount in fares, the government has once again clarified its intention in Parliament.
All passengers are getting discount – Railway Minister
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav answered questions in Parliament on Friday regarding discount in railway fares to senior citizens and sports persons. He said that Indian Railways gave a subsidy of about Rs 57 thousand crore to provide affordable services to the passengers in 2022-23. According to the Railway Minister, this subsidy given by Indian Railways is equal to 46 percent of the fare for all categories of passengers.
Railways spent so much on subsidy
The Railway Minister was asked whether senior citizens and sports people are still getting the benefit of the discount on railway tickets, which they used to get before March 2020. Also, the government was asked about the plan to restore the discount. In response, the Railway Minister said that the Indian Railways tries to provide affordable services to people from all sections of the society. For this, a subsidy of Rs 56,993 crore was given by the Railways on fares in 2022-23.
Railways claim – this much discount is being given
He said that the subsidy being given by the Railways is equal to about 46 percent of the total fare for all passengers on an average. All rail passengers are getting the benefit of this subsidy. Apart from that, 4 categories of Divyangjan, 11 categories of patients and 8 categories of students are being given additional discount on fares by the Railways.
The government reiterated the old argument
In this reply of the Railway Minister, the discount given to senior citizens was not mentioned. This is in line with the government’s old stand and once again it has been stated that the government is not in favor of restoring the discounts available before March 2020. Ashwini Vaishnav has also argued earlier that the Railways is giving fare concessions to all classes of passengers and the government has no plans to give separate discounts to senior citizens.
Earlier, such discounts were available on fares
Let us tell you that senior citizens and women traveling by Indian Railways were getting the benefit of discounts on fares for a long time. However, this discount has been discontinued since March 2020. Before that, female senior citizens used to get 50 percent discount on fares, while male and transgender senior citizens used to get 40 percent discount. After the lockdown, when the trains started operating gradually, the discounts given to senior citizens and women were not restored.
