Senior Citizen Fare Concession: If you also often travel by railways, then definitely know the updates related to this. After the Covid period, this financial year is proving to be a relief for the Railways. Railways has earned Rs 135387 crore from freight in this financial year till January 2023. Railways has earned 16 per cent more freight traffic as compared to the same period last year. Railways achieved the target of 1243.46 MT freight loading by January 2023.
According to the information given, the freight loading of Indian Railways in the first 10 months of the financial year 2022-23 has crossed the loading and earnings of the same period last year. Railways earned Rs 135387 crore as compared to Rs 117212 crore last year, which is 16 percent higher than the same period last year. This year, an initial freight loading of 134.07 MT has been done during January 2023 as against the loading of 129.12 MT as on 22nd January, which is 4% higher than the previous year.
Passengers demanded to restore exemption
Rs 14907 crore was achieved this year as against freight loading of Rs 13172 crore in January a year ago. Due to which there has been an improvement of 13 percent as compared to the previous year. Let us tell you that in the current financial year, Railways has earned better than the last few years. Passengers are demanding restoration of concession given to senior citizens in tickets due to increase in railway earnings. Let us tell you that before Covid, the railways used to give 50 to 60 percent discount on the ticket price to senior citizens. But it was closed during the Covid period.
Railway Minister replied
Now there is a demand from the passengers to restore this exemption. In response to a written question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that the concession given by the Railways to senior citizens can be restored soon. He told in a reply in the Rajya Sabha that Indian Railways gave a subsidy of Rs 59,837 crore on passenger tickets in 2019-20, which is an average discount of about 53 percent for each person traveling.
It was informed by the Railway Board that a plan is being prepared to give concession in fare to senior citizens. This is being considered by the Railways, this exemption may be different from before. The Standing Committee is working on it. Senior citizens have been advised to give concession in at least sleeper and 3 AC. The parliamentary panel has also recommended restoration of concession on railway tickets to senior citizens.