Concession to Senior Citizens in Trains वरिष्ठ नागरिकों को रेलगाड़ियों में छूट

Concession to Senior Citizens in Trains वरिष्ठ नागरिकों को रेलगाड़ियों में छूट

414. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY
       SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK (DEV)

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the number of trains being operated in the country;

(b) whether the Government has scrapped the concession being given to senior citizens in train tickets;

(c) if so, the reasons therefor and the amount earned from withdrawal of fare subsidy of senior citizens in the last two years, year-wise;

(e) whether the Government proposes to restore senior citizen concession in train tickets;

(f) if so, the time by which it is likely to be restored and if not, the reasons therefor;

(g) whether the Government has started any mechanism to allot lower berth seat for senior citizens specially female passengers; and

(h) if so, the details of the initiative taken by the Government in this regard?

(a) to (h) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

 

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (h) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 414 BY DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY AND SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK (DEV) TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 29.03.2023 REGARDING CONCESSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS IN TRAINS

(a) to (h) As on 23.03.2022, total average daily number of trains operated on Indian Railways network is 10378 including 2032 Mail/Express services and 2687 Passenger services.

The concession to senior citizens in passenger fare has been withdrawn from 20.03.2020. Government gave subsidy of ₹59,837 Crore on passenger tickets in 2019-20. This amounts to concession of 53% on an average, to every person, travelling on Railways. This subsidy is continuing for all passengers. Further concessions beyond this subsidy amount are continuing for many categories like Divyangjans, students and patients. Revenue foregone due to concessions in passenger fare to Senior citizens during 2019-20 was approximately ₹1667 Crore.

Railways operate different types of train services like Garib Rath, Rajdhani, Shatabdi,  Duronto, Vande Bharat, Gatimaan, Tejas, Humsafar, Mail/Express, Ordinary passenger etc. Apart from this, different classes 1st AC, 2nd AC, 3rd AC, AC Chair Car, sleeper class, second class reserved/Unreserved, etc. are available on different fare structures for the use of passengers including senior citizens who can travel as per their preferences.

With a view to provide lower berths to senior citizens undertaking journey by trains, following steps have been taken:-

(i) Provision to allot lower berths automatically to Senior Citizens, Female passengers of 45 years and above even if no choice is given, subject to availability of such accommodation at the time of booking.

 

(ii) Earmarking of a combined quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in Sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach each in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) and three to four lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes (depending on the number of coaches of that class in the train) for senior citizens, female passengers of 45 years of age and above and pregnant women.

(iii) Provision for allotment of lower berths falling vacant in the train by onboard ticket checking staff to senior citizens/Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)/pregnant woman who has been allotted upper/middle berths by the system.

(iii) आऑनबोर्ड टिकट चेकिंग स्टाफ द्वारा वरिष्ठ नागरिकों/दिव्यांःगजनों (पीडब्ल्यूडी)/गर्भवती महिलाओं, जिन्हें सिस्टम द्वारा ऊपरी/बीच की बर्थ आवंटित की गई है , को रेलगाड़ी में खाली होने वाली निचली बर्थ आबंटित करने का प्रावधान किया गया है।