Senior Citizen Train Fare Concession: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways has once again asked the government to reconsider the decision regarding concessions to senior citizen passengers. Let us know about it in detail.
The committee in its report urged the Railways to review its earlier decision and consider giving concession to senior citizens at least in sleeper class and 3A class.
The committee has reiterated its earlier recommendation so that vulnerable and genuinely needy citizens can avail the facility in these two categories.
In a statement, the committee explained why the exemption should be given.
The Committee reiterates its earlier recommendations contained in its above report and urges the Railways to sympathetically consider restoration of concessions in fares to senior citizens especially in Sleeper Class and 3A Class under intimation to this Committee.
Why was the concession given to senior citizen passengers stopped?
Railway concessions to senior citizens were withdrawn on 20 March 2020 following the spread of the pandemic and the nationwide lockdown. Since the corona virus situation has now normalized and Railways has achieved normal growth, the Committee has urged the Ministry of Railways to reconsider the same.
What is the concession given to senior citizens while traveling by railways?
The national transporter used to offer a 40 per cent discount on fares to male passengers who were 60 years of age or above and 50 per cent discount to women if the minimum age was 58 years. These concessions were given in fares of all classes of Mail/Express/Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto group of trains.
