If there are senior citizens in your family or you belong to this category and frequently travel by train, this news is particularly relevant.
The fare concession halted during the Covid-19 pandemic may be reintroduced by the government.
This potential move could bring significant relief to millions of senior citizens, marking a major benefit from the Modi 3.0 government.
Restoration Details
According to Dainik Bhaskar, the Modi 3.0 government is contemplating reinstating the fare concessions for senior citizens, specifically for sleeper class travel.
The aim is to impose minimal financial burden on the railways, hence the focus on sleeper class rather than AC coaches.
This concession will likely be available only to senior citizens who are not financially capable of affording sleeper class travel.
How It Will Work
The discount will not be automatically applied based on age as it was before. Senior citizens will need to fill in a discount column on the reservation form when booking their tickets.
Additionally, sources indicate that the discount might be limited to two or three trips per year per passenger.
Prior to the pandemic, senior citizens enjoyed up to 50% discounts on general, AC, and sleeper class tickets.
Previous Discount Rates
Before Covid-19, the railways offered a 40% discount on basic fare for men aged 60 and above, and a 50% discount for women aged 58 and above. This concession was suspended in March 2020.
In response to inquiries in Parliament, the railways highlighted the significant subsidies already provided in passenger fares, with the average cost per passenger being Rs 110, while only Rs 45 was charged.
Increase in Senior Citizen Passengers
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav recently noted an increase in senior citizen train travel post-pandemic.
He reported that 1.87 crore senior citizens traveled by train between March 2020 and March 2021, and this number rose to 4.74 crore between April 2021 and February 2022.
Initially, the minister had ruled out the return of fare concessions, but current discussions suggest a shift towards reinstating this benefit.
