MPs Demand Restoration of Train Fare Concessions for Seniors, Journalists

On Wednesday, Members of Parliament once again called for the reinstatement of the 50 per cent concession on train fares for senior citizens and journalists, which was halted during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the debate on Demands for Grants for Railways in Lok Sabha, Independent MP Pappu Yadav urged the government to bring back these concessions.

Before the March 2020 lockdown, Indian Railways provided a 50 per cent discount on train fares to senior citizens and accredited journalists. Durai Vaiko of MDMK highlighted that these concessions have not been restored since then. "I urge the honourable minister to restore this 50 per cent concession on train tickets to senior citizens and media," Vaiko stated.

Appeals for Concessions and Safety

Vaiko also requested that the government reinstate the monthly seasonal ticket concession for students, which was available until the March 2020 lockdown. He emphasised the importance of supporting the press and media, referring to them as the fourth pillar of democracy. "As policymakers, we need to take care of the interest of the fourth pillar of democracy there is press and media," he said.

Yadav also highlighted the need to improve train safety, citing recent rail accidents. He appealed to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to enhance basic amenities and increase the number of general compartments in trains. Additionally, he suggested a 75 per cent concession for students travelling for competitive exams and urged the resumption of concessions for theatre artistes.

Calls for Separate Railway Budget

Sudama Prasad from CPI-ML demanded an end to what he described as the privatisation of Railways and called for a separate budget for it. He insisted that trains discontinued during the Covid period should be restarted for public benefit. K Francis George from Kerala Congress echoed this demand for a separate railway budget.

A parliamentary standing committee had recommended last year that fare concessions for senior citizens should be resumed by Indian Railways. These concessions were previously available across all classes of Mail/Express/Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duranto trains but were withdrawn on March 20, 2020.

The debate saw multiple MPs stressing the need to restore various concessions that were in place before the pandemic. The focus was on ensuring affordability and accessibility in train travel for different sections of society, including students, senior citizens, journalists, and theatre artistes.

The MPs' appeals reflect a broader concern about maintaining public welfare through accessible transportation options. The reinstatement of these concessions is seen as crucial in supporting vulnerable groups and ensuring equitable access to railway services.

The discussion underscored a collective call from lawmakers to address both fare concessions and safety improvements within Indian Railways. The emphasis was on balancing financial sustainability with public service obligations.