Panel asks rlys to restart concession for elderly

The Parliamentary standing committee on railways has suggested the Indian Railways to re-commence senior citizens concession for both sleeper and 3AC passengers, according to a report released on August 4.

The report comes after the Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Parliament that re-starting concessions for senior citizens were not feasible for the government.

The ministry of railways had, given pandemic and Covid protocol, a withdrawn concession to all categories of passengers (except four categories of Divyangjan, 11 categories of patients and students) from March 20, 2020. Accordingly, at present, concession in passenger fares is not admissible to senior citizens.

The committee stated that since the Railways are heading towards normalcy, they should consider the concessions granted to different categories of passengers judiciously. “The Committee desires that concession to senior citizens which was available in pre-COVID times may be reviewed and considered at least in Sleeper Class and III AC urgently so that the vulnerable and the genuinely needy senior citizens could avail the facility in these classes,” the report read. On July 23, Vaishnaw, in a written reply to a question in Lok

Sabha, said the Indian Railways is already bearing more than 50% of the cost of travel, on an average, for all passengers, including senior citizens, on account of lower fare structure for passenger services.

However, after receiving criticism, railways officials had, on July 25, told HT that the Indian Railways was considering re-commencing concessions in train fares for senior citizens, but only for passengers travelling in general and sleeper classes.