Lok Sabha Question No. 2634 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Concession to Senior Citizens
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: D. M. Kathir Anand, Prataprao Govindrao  Patil Chikhalikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2634 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2021

## CONCESSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS

## 2634. SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND: SHRI PRATAPRAO PATIL CHIKHLIKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  had  discontinued  the  fare  concession given to the senior citizens for train journey;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether the concession banned for the senior citizens have since been revoked;
- (d)  if  not,  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  revoke  the concession ban;
- (e)  the measures the Government is taking to make Railways disabled friendly;
- (f)    whether  the  Government has any proposal for attaching a special coach in every train for people with disabilities; and
- (g)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (g)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2634 BY SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND AND SHRI  PRATAPRAO  PATIL  CHIKHLIKAR  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK SABHA ON 04.08.2021 REGARDING CONCESSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS

- (a)  to  (d):  In  view  of  Pandemic  &  Covid  protocol,  concession  to  all categories  of  passengers  (except  4  categories  of  Divyangjan,  11 categories  of  Patients  and  Students)  have  been  withdrawn  from 20.03.2020  till  further  advice.   At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  to restore concessions.
- (e).  The  details  of  important  measures  taken  to  make  Railways disabled friendly are as follows:
- (i).  Extension  of  concessional  online  ticket  booking  facility  to  the persons with disability (Divyangjans).
- (ii). Extension of reservation quota of four berths in sleeper class and two berths in 3AC in all  trains  running  on  non-suburban  sections  for Divyangjans.
- (iii). Automatic allotment of lower berth to the Divyangjans subject to availability.

(iv). Allotment of available vacant lower berths available in the train to Divyangjan passengers by onboard Ticket Checking Staff on priority.

- (v). Earmarking of reserved accomoodation for  Divyangjans  in SLRD coaches attached in Garib Rath Express Trains.
- (vi). Earmarking of reservation counters at various Passenger Reservation  System(PRS)  centres  for  dealing  with  the  reservation requisitions  received  from  Divyangjans,  Senior  Citizens,  Ex.  MPs, MLAs, accredited journalists and freedom fighters, based on  demand and availability.

(vii). Provision of Wheel Chair for the use of Divyangjan, Old aged Poor people, etc. at Railway stations.

(viii).  Provision  of  'Yatri  Mitra  Sewa'  at  major  stations  for  enabling passengers to book wheel chairs services cum porter services.

(ix). Booking of e-wheelchairs online through IRCTC portal www.irctc.co.in. The facility is presently, available at 22 stations.

(x). Provision of Battery Operated Vehicles (BOVs) at some important stations for Divyangjans, Senior Citizens etc..

Indian Railways is committed to make its railways stations and trains accessible for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) as part of 'Sugamya Bharat Mission' or Accessible India Campaign of Government  of  India.    Improvement/  augmentation  of  amenities  at Railway stations, including those for differently abled passengers is a continuous process.

(f) & (g): To cater to the needs of Divyagjan Passengers, almost all the Mail/ Express trains running with Integral Coach Factory (ICF) design coaches  including  Garib  Rath  trains,  have  been  provided  with  a specially designed Divyangjan friendly cabin in at least one coach viz. SLRD-Second  class  cum  luggage  cum  Guard  van  with  Divyangjan friendly facilities. These Divyangjan coaches are, however, not available in special type of trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi,  Jan Shatabdi, AC Special, Duronto trains etc.

Further, Indian Railways, for enhancing safety of passengers and providing  better  traveling  experience,  has  taken  up  proliferation  of LHB  (Linke  Hofmann  Busch)  coaches  and  accordingly  trains  running with Integral Coach Factory (ICF) design coaches are being converted

into LHB coaches in a phase-wise manner. Owing to non-availability of Divyangjan    friendly  coaches,  in  the  initial  stage  of  the  conversion plan, Divyangjan friendly coaches could not be attached in the trains running with LHB coaches. However, such coaches have now become available  and  are  being  attached  in  a  phased  manner  based  on operational feasibility and availability of such coaches.

*****