Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday (December 4) stated that Indian Railways provides a total subsidy of Rs 56,993 crore annually across all passenger categories, offering a 46% discount on every ticket.
Responding to several queries in the Lok Sabha about restoring discounts for different categories of train passengers, Vaishnaw explained that for a ticket priced at Rs 100, passengers are only charged Rs 54, reflecting a 46% rebate.
“A total of Rs 56,993 crore subsidy is given every year by the Indian Railways to all classes of passengers,” Vaishnaw said during the Question Hour.
Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service
On the topic of rapid train services, Vaishnaw mentioned that the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service, which connects Bhuj and Ahmedabad, has already been launched.
The railway minister noted that passengers have expressed high satisfaction with the service due to its efficiency and superior quality.
According to officials, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail reduces travel time between Bhuj and Ahmedabad (359 kilometers) to just 5 hours and 45 minutes, with stops at multiple stations along the route.