Railway Subsidy For The Elderly Still On Halt, While MPs Enjoy Concessions

While this concession was shelved citing growing subsidy bills, the Indian Railways continued to subsidise train tickets for present and former MPs, which has drawn criticism from many.

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. While this concession was shelved citing growing subsidy bills, the Indian Railways continued to subsidise train tickets for present and former Members of Parliament (MPs), which has drawn criticism from many.

The senior citizen concessions were stopped from March 20, 2020. In August, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways recommended to the Ministry of Railways that the subsidised fares -- amounting to 40 per cent to 50 per cent of the total fare -- be restored.

Senior citizens used to get a concession of 50 per cent for women and 40 per cent for men, above 60 years of age.

Between April 2020 and September 2022, the railways earned Rs 5808.85 crore from 9.36 crore senior citizens.