Modi Government May Reintroduce Train Fare Discounts for Sr CitizensÂ
A train at an Indian railway station where senior citizens may soon enjoy discounted fares again.
In a move that would delight many senior citizens, the Modi government is considering reintroducing the train fare concessions that were halted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,2,281,877
Senior Citizens Ticket Concession: A Potential Comeback
The government might soon restore the fare concession for senior citizens who frequently travel by train. This concession, which was discontinued during the pandemic, would benefit millions of seniors. According to Dainik Bhaskar, the Modi 3.0 government is considering restoring the concession for sleeper class tickets but not for AC class. This move aims to minimize financial strain on the railways, and only seniors who cannot afford sleeper class tickets might receive this benefit. If reinstated, this would be the first time in four years that the government has offered such a concession.
How to Avail the Concession
The concession will not be automatically applied as it was before. Senior citizens will need to fill out a concession column in the reservation form while booking their tickets. Discussions are ongoing about limiting the discount to two or three times a year per passenger.
Before Covid, men aged 60 and above received a 40% discount, and women aged 58 and above received a 50% discount. This policy was halted in March 2020 due to the pandemic. The Railways noted that they are already providing a subsidy of ₹59,837 crore on passenger fares, with the average cost per passenger being ₹110, but only ₹45 is charged.
Increase in Senior Citizen Rail Passengers
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav recently mentioned a significant increase in senior citizens travelling by train after the pandemic. The number of senior citizens traveling by train rose from 1.87 crore between March 2020 and March 2021 to 4.74 crore from April 2021 to February 2022. Although he previously rejected the idea of reinstating the concession, current reports suggest that the government is reconsidering it.
The potential reinstatement of the senior citizen fare concession could provide significant relief and support for older train travellers across the country.
