The Railways provide 46 per cent subsidy for every passenger across “all categories”, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday in response to questions about discontinued fare concessions for senior citizens and requests for concessions for sportspersons. “The total subsidy provided by the Government of India for all passengers travelling in Indian Railways is Rs 56,993 crore. When the cost of providing the service is Rs 100, the ticket is charged at Rs. 54, which amounts to 46 per cent subsidy for every passenger travelling, which includes all the categories.” the Railways minister replied to a supplementary question in the Lok Sabha. The question, asked by MDMK member Durai Vaikio, pertained to fare concessions to senior citizens and accredited journalists that have been discontinued. “It is very unfortunate that the train fare concessions which were extended to senior citizens and accredited journalists were discontinued during the Covid-19 pandemic and have still not been resumed even after two years. I had raised this issue on 31st July before you. I would like to know from the Hon. railway minister about the Centre’s decision to restore the same,” the MP from Tamil Nadu said. Vaishnaw gave the same answer when Congress member Praniti Shinde asked a question related to concessions for sportspersons. “The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has written to the Ministry of Railways on several occasions before and asked them for concessions specifically for sportspersons. This is not covered under the disabled category or it is not covered under your subsidies that you give to everybody. For various states also, the budget for Khelo India has been reduced. With such a background, I would like to ask this question to the minister. Are you going to specifically give concessions to young people who are participating in sports, who are making our country proud, to travel by railways,” she asked. Vaishnaw replied: “I have mentioned earlier, when the cost of providing the service is Rs 100, the price that we are charging is about Rs. 54, which amounts to 46 per cent subsidy to everybody who is travelling by railways on an average, and the amount of this subsidy today is to the tune of Rs 56,993 crore. The sportspersons are included in that.” Responding to a question asked by DMK member T R Baalu, Vaishnaw said the NDA government has allocated Rs 6,362 crore per year for the Railways in Tamil Nadu as compared to the UPA government's Rs 879 crore per year. “It is a huge jump. Unfortunately, out of the 3,389 hectares of land required for development of the projects in Tamil Nadu, the land acquired is only 26 per cent, that is, 866 hectares. In regard to the land which has to be acquired, we are continuously following up with the state government. Our officials as well as I, at my level, are constantly pursuing it with the state government. I request the Hon.MP also to pursue with the state government to support this because Railways and Defence are the two departments which have to be out of politics,” the minister said.
