Lok Sabha Question No. 2735 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Reservation of Lower Berth for Disabled and Senior Citizens
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Utkarsh Verma Madhur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2735

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2024

## RESERVATION OF LOWER BERTH FOR DISABLED AND SENIOR CITIZENS

## †2735. SHRI UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  restore  the  subsidy  on  the travel tickets of the persons with disabilities and senior citizens as earlier;
- (b) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  seriously  considering  to  reserve  the lower birth for the persons with disabilities and senior citizens;
- (d) the  details  of  the  States  where  Bullet  Train's  are  proposed  to  be introduced;
- (e) whether  the  Government  contemplates  to  launch  Bullet  Train  in Uttar Pradesh too in future; and
- (f) if so, the time by which it is likely to be run?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

( SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) and (b): Indian Railways strives to provide affordable services to all strata of the society and gave subsidy of ₹56,993 cr on passenger

tickets in 2022-23. This amounts to concession of 46% on an average, to every person, travelling on Railways. In other words for easier understanding, if the cost of providing service is ₹100, then the price of ticket is ₹54 only. This subsidy is continuing for all passengers. Further, concessions  beyond  this  subsidy  amount  are  continuing  for  many categories like  4  categories  of  Persons  with  disabilities  (Divyangjans), 11 categories of patients and 8 categories of students.

(c): The  following facilities  have  been  extended  to  Persons  with Disabilities and Senior citizens:

- i. Allotment of  lower  berths  to  Senior  Citizens,  Female  passengers  of 45 years and above automatically, even if no choice is given, subject to availability.
- ii. Earmarking  of  a  combined  quota  of  six  to  seven  lower  berths  per coach in Sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach each in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC) and three to four lower berths per coach in Air  Conditioned  2  tier  (2AC)  classes  (depending  on  the  number  of coaches  of  that  class  in  the  train)  for  senior  citizens,  female passengers 45 years of age and above and pregnant women.
- iii. Earmarking  of  reservation  quota  of  four  berths  in  sleeper  class (including two lower berths) and four berths in 3AC/3E (including two lower  berths)  and  four  seats  in  reserved  second  sitting  (2S)/airconditioned Chair Car (CC) in all mail/express trains including Rajdhani/Shatabdi  type  trains  irrespective  of  the  fact  that  whether concession facilities is available or not to Persons with Disabilities.

- iv. Allotment of lower berths falling vacant in the train to senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities or pregnant women (who have been allotted middle/upper berth) on priority.

(d)  to  (f):  Mumbai-Ahmedabad  High  Speed  Rail  (MAHSR)  Project  is  the only  sanctioned  project  of  High  Speed  Rail  in  India  which  is  under execution  with  technical  and  financial  assistance  from  Government  of Japan.

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