Lok Sabha Question No. 1792 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Quota in Booking Tickets
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ANUPAM HAZRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1792 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2019

## QUOTA IN BOOKING TICKETS

1792.  DR. ANUPAM HAZRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce special facilities for  availability  of  tickets  on  priority  basis  to  the  patient  and  his attendant  at  concessional  rate,  belonging  to  the  economically weaker family;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether similar concession and ticket reservation facility to the candidates  for  attending  examination  and  in  view  for  Government services is also proposed to be provided; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1792  BY  DR.  ANUPAM  HAZRA  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  13.02.2019  REGARDING  QUOTA  IN BOOKING TICKETS

(a) & (b):  Indian Railways extend travel concessions in passenger fare to  11  categories  of  patients  irrespective  of  their  income  status.  The details are as under:-

| S.No.   | CATEGORY OF PERSONS                                                                                          | PERCENTAGE OF CONCESSION*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| I       | Patients                                                                                                     | Patients                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 1       | Cancer patients travelling alone or with an escort for treatment / periodic check- up. (reserved/unreserved) |  75% in 2 nd class, 1 st class (FC) & AC chair car (CC)  100% in Second Sleeper (SL) & AC- 3 tier (3AC)  50% in 1 st AC (1AC) & AC-2 tier (2AC)  one escort eligible for same element of concession (except in Second Sleeper (SL) & AC- 3tier (3AC) where escort gets 75% |
| 2       | Thalassemia patients travelling alone or with escort for treatment/periodic check- up                        |  75% in 2 nd class, Second Sleeper (SL), 1 st Class (FC), AC-3 tier (3AC), AC chair Car (CC)  50% in 1 st AC (1AC) and AC- 2 tier (2AC)  One escort is also eligible                                                                                                        |
| 3       | Heart patients travelling alone or with an escort for heart surgery                                          | for same element of concession                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 4       | Kidney patients travelling alone or with an escort for                                                       |  75% in 2 nd class, Second Sleeper (SL), 1 st Class (FC), AC-3 tier (3AC), AC chair Car (CC)  50% in 1 st AC (1AC) and AC- 2 tier (2AC)  One escort is also eligible                                                                                                        |

|    | kidney transplant Operation / Dialysis                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                          |
|----|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  5 | Haemophilia Patients - severe & moderate form of disease - travelling alone or with an escort for treatment/periodical check up. |  75% in 2 nd class, Second Sleeper(SL), 1 st Class (FC), AC-3 tier (3AC), AC chair car(CC)  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession |
|  6 | T.B./Lupas Valgaris patients travelling alone or with an escort for treatment / periodical check-up                              |  75% in 2 nd class, Second Sleeper (SL) and 1 st Class(FC)  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession                                 |
|  7 | Non-infectious Leprosy patients - for treatment / periodical check-up.                                                           |  75% in 2 nd class, Second Sleeper (SL) and 1 st Class(FC)  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession                                 |
|  8 | AIDS patients - for treatment / check-up at nominated ART Centres.                                                               |  50% in 2 nd Class.                                                                                                                                     |
|  9 | Ostomy patients - travelling for any purpose.                                                                                    |  50% in Monthly Season Ticket & Quarterly Season Ticket  One escort is also eligible for same element of concession.                                   |

|   10 | Sickle cell Anaemia - for treatment/periodical check- up   |  50% In Second Sleeper(SL), AC Chair Car (CC), AC 3-tier (3AC) and AC 2-tier (2AC) classes   |
|------|------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   11 | Aplastic Anaemia - for treatment/periodical check- up.     |  50% In Second Sleeper (SL), AC Chair Car (CC), AC 3-tier (3AC) and AC 2-tier (2AC) classes. |

* Concession is applicable only on basic fare

Further, w.e.f. 15.05.2017, Patients who are already eligible to travel in second class and AC Chair car of Mail/Express trains, are also eligible to travel in Jan Shatabdi trains.

As regards priority  in  allotment  of  berths/seats,  in  the  computerized Passenger  Reservation  System  (PRS)  there  is  a  provision  to  permit cancer Patients and their attendants travelling on concessional tickets issued in exchange  of concession certificate, to directly access Emergency  Quota  at  the  time  of  booking  itself.  Maximum  number  of berths/seats  out  of  the  Emergency  Quota  in  a  train,  which  can  be accessed by Cancer patients and their attendants in Sleeper class is 4 and 2 each in Air conditioned (AC) Chair Car, AC 3 tier, AC 2 tier and First Classes. In addition, separate Cancer Patient Quota has also been defined in some identified trains.

(c) & (d): Indian Railways extend travel concessions in passenger fare to unemployed  youths  irrespective of their income  status to attend competitive  examination  and  interview  for  government  services.    The details are as under:

|   S.No | Category                                                                                                                                                                                                            | PERCENTAGE OF CONCESSION*                                                                                    |
|--------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | Unemployed youths : - (i) to attend interview for jobs in Statutory Bodies, Municipal Corporation, Govt Under-taking, University or Public Sector Body. (ii) to attend interviews for jobs in Central & State Govt. | (i) 50% in 2nd Class and Second Sleeper (SL) class (ii) 100% in 2nd class & 50% in Second Sleeper (SL) class |
|      2 | Entrance exam - Girls of Govt. schools in rural areas - for national level for medical, engineering, etc. entrance exam.                                                                                            | 75% in 2 nd class.                                                                                           |
|      3 | Concession to students appearing in main written examination conducted by UPSC & Central Staff Selection Commissions.                                                                                               | 50% in 2 nd class.                                                                                           |

As regards priority in allotment of berths/seats out of Emergency  Quota,  a  limited  number  of  berths/seats  have  been earmarked  as  Emergency  Quota  (EQ)  in  different  trains  and  in different  classes.  At  the  time  of  allotment  of  berths in  this  Quota, preference is given for travel of high dignitaries.

The other requisitions received from various quarters are considered  for  release  of  berths  out  of  the  remaining  Emergency quota  (after  providing  confirmed  accommodation  for  self  travel  of high dignitaries) taking into account factors like status of passengers travelling, nature of urgency like travelling on Government Duty, bereavement in the family, sickness, job interview etc.

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