Lok Sabha Question No. 59 (STARRED), answered on 2022-07-20
Subject: Concessions in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Faizal P.P. Mohammed, Anto  Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 59 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2022

## CONCESSIONS IN RAILWAYS

- *59. SHRI MOHAMMED FAIZAL P.P.: SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  reasons  for  abolition  and  non-resumption  of  concessions  to senior  citizens  in  Railways  despite  the  easing  of  the  Covid-19 pandemic;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  assessment  on  how discontinued concessions is likely to affect the number of senior citizens travelling and how this decision will impact the savings of senior citizens and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  also  intends  to  offer  concessions  to passengers  in  select  classes  viz.  four  categories  of  Divyangjan, eleven categories of patients and students and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  revenue  loss  occurred  due  to  concessions  given  to  senior citizens since the last three years to Indian Railways; and
- (e) whether the Ministry proposes to revoke such ban on concessions specifically for senior citizens, students and sports persons, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 59 BY SHRI MOHAMMED FAIZAL P. P. AND SHRI ANTO ANTONY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.07.2022 REGARDING CONCESSIONS IN RAILWAYS

(a) to (c): Passenger fare in most of the classes is very low. Passenger segment over  Indian  Railways  has  suffered  recurring  loss  due  to  low fare  and  concessions  to  different  categories  of  passengers.  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. Apart from this, due to Covid 19, passenger earnings for the last two years is less in comparison to 20192020.  These  have  long  term  impact  on  the  financial  health  of  the Railways.  Cost  of  granting  concessions  weighs  heavily  on  Railways, hence extending scope of concessions to all categories of passengers including senior citizens is not desirable. In spite of these challenges, Indian Railways has continued concession in fare to four categories of persons with disabilities, eleven categories of patients and students.

The  number  of  senior  citizen  passengers  travelled  in  reserved classes during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 are 6.18 crore, 1.90 crore and 5.55 crore  respectively. Decrease in travelling of number of senior citizen  passengers  during  2020-21  and  2021-22  may  be  in  view  of Pandemic due to Covid-19.

Railways operate different types of train services like Garib Rath, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Gatimaan, Tejas, Humsafar, Mail/Express, Ordinary passenger etc.  Apart from this, different classes 1 st   AC,  2 nd   AC,  3 rd   AC,  AC  Chair  Car,  sleeper  class,  second  class reserved/Unreserved, etc. are available on different fare structures for the use of passengers including senior citizens who can travel as per their preferences.

Apart  from  this  during  2019-20,  22.62  lakh  senior  citizen  passengers had opted to give up concession scheme in passenger fare and gave up concessions  for  the  sustained  development  of  Railways  with  better facilities.

(d):  Revenue foregone due to concessions in passenger fare to Senior citizen  passengers  during  2017-18,  2018-19  and  2019-20  for  both reserved and unreserved are as under:

| Period   |   Revenue foregone in ` (crore) |
|----------|---------------------------------|
| 2017-18  |                            1491 |
| 2018-19  |                            1636 |
| 2019-20  |                            1667 |

(e): Concessions in passenger fare is already admissible to Students as per Rule. As already reasons mentioned in the reply to Parts (a) to (c) above, restoration of concessions to Senior Citizen and Sports persons Passengers is not desirable.

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