Big News for Train Travelers, When Will Senior Citizens Get Train Ticket Discounts?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Railways discontinued several concessions for passengers, including discounts on train tickets for senior citizens. Recently, a question about reinstating these concessions was raised in Parliament, prompting a response from the Ministry of Railways.

Question Raised in Parliament

In the Lok Sabha, a query was directed to the Ministry of Railways regarding the status of ticket discounts for senior citizens, which had been withdrawn during the pandemic. The question sought clarity on whether there were any proposals or decisions to reinstate this concession.

Railways’ Response

The Ministry of Railways clarified that currently, concessions are being provided to four categories of persons with disabilities, 11 categories of patients, and eight categories of students. In the financial year 2022-23, the Railways incurred a subsidy cost of ₹56,993 crore for passenger travel.

As an example, the Ministry explained that if a train ticket costs ₹100, passengers already receive a 46% subsidy, paying only ₹54. Thus, a discount of ₹46 is effectively being provided on every ₹100 ticket.

Concessions for Senior Citizens

The Ministry further stated that efforts are being made to enhance the facilities for senior citizens, such as offering lower berth seats to make their journeys more comfortable.

Implications of the Railways’ Statement

It is important to note that the concessions for senior citizens were suspended during the COVID-19 period. Since then, there has been a growing demand to reinstate these discounts. However, the response from the Ministry suggests that while improving facilities for senior citizens is a priority, there is no immediate plan to resume ticket price discounts.