Senior Citizen Train Subsidy

Railway fare concessions to senior citizens, which were stopped during Covid, have not yet been reinstated despite MPs from both the ruling BJP and main opposition Congress batting for it, and a Parliament committee recommending it.

BJP MP Varun Gandhi today questioned the government's decision to scrap the concession given to senior citizens on train tickets and asked why this relief to the elderly is seen as a "burden" when MPs continue to get subsidy on rail fare.

While MPs enjoyed crores in free and discounted train tickets, the Indian Railways has been refusing concessions to senior citizens citing the need to cut its subsidy bills, documents accessed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act show.

Over 9 lakh senior citizens have voluntarily given up their ticket subsidies under the 'give up' scheme of the Railways, thereby helping the government to save around Rs 40 crore.

Eager to reduce its huge subsidy burden, the Indian Railway has now given senior citizens the option of foregoing concession on purchase of reserved class tickets.

Railway fare concessions to senior citizens, which were stopped during Covid, have not yet been reinstated despite MPs from both the ruling BJP and main opposition Congress batting for it, and a Parliament committee recommending it.

BJP MP Varun Gandhi today questioned the government's decision to scrap the concession given to senior citizens on train tickets and asked why this relief to the elderly is seen as a "burden" when MPs continue to get subsidy on rail fare.

While MPs enjoyed crores in free and discounted train tickets, the Indian Railways has been refusing concessions to senior citizens citing the need to cut its subsidy bills, documents accessed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act show.

Over 9 lakh senior citizens have voluntarily given up their ticket subsidies under the 'give up' scheme of the Railways, thereby helping the government to save around Rs 40 crore.

Eager to reduce its huge subsidy burden, the Indian Railway has now given senior citizens the option of foregoing concession on purchase of reserved class tickets.