On Thursday, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram called on Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to reinstate senior citizen concessions and tackle safety issues associated with ticketless travel. Chidambaram emphasized the importance of these measures to safeguard the welfare of millions who depend on Indian Railways for their daily commutes.
Restoration of senior citizens’ concessions
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, in a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, underscored several urgent issues that need addressing to maintain Indian Railways’ commuter-friendly reputation and ensure a smooth travel experience for passengers.
The suspension of senior citizens’ concessions in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant concern. Despite the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions in 2021, the concession has not been reinstated as of 2024, noted the Congress MP from Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga.
Previously, men over 60 and women over 58 received a concession of 40 percent and 50 percent, respectively. However, since the withdrawal of these concessions, senior citizens have had to pay the full fare.
He highlighted that in August 2022, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways recommended that the concessions for various categories of passengers should be evaluated judiciously.
In his letter to Vaishnaw, Chidambaram mentioned that the committee urged the review and reinstatement of the senior citizens’ concession, at least for Sleeper Class and Third AC, to support vulnerable and genuinely needy elderly passengers.
In a Rajya Sabha response on July 28, 2023, it was noted that the government provided a subsidy of Rs 59,837 crore on passenger tickets for the year 2019-20, translating to an average concession of 53 percent per passenger.
However, Chidambaram noted that the withdrawal of the senior citizens’ concession suggests that the overall concessions provided before COVID-19 were more generous than the current average of 53 percent.
He pointed out that, according to information obtained through multiple RTI applications, Indian Railways has generated more than Rs 5,800 crore from the discontinuation of senior citizen concessions from March 20, 2020, to January 31, 2024.
Considering Indian Railways’ vast scale as the largest rail network in Asia and the second largest globally, the Congress leader emphasized the necessity of restoring these concessions for senior citizens.
Safety concerns related to ticketless travel
Moreover, he drew attention to a recent incident reported in the media on June 11, 2024. Numerous passengers were reportedly unable to board the Chennai Central-Howrah Superfast Mail at Chennai because reserved compartments were allegedly occupied by ticketless individuals.
Chidambaram noted that railway staff admitted it is difficult to check every passenger for a confirmed ticket, leading to several passengers being stranded at the station without accommodation or alternative travel options. He further noted that this incident is not an isolated case, citing widespread complaints on social media about overcrowding by ticketless passengers, including on premium services such as the Vande Bharat Express.
He urged Vaishnaw to personally intervene and take swift action to reinstate senior citizens’ concessions and address the safety concerns associated with ticketless passengers. This, he emphasized, is crucial for ensuring the well-being of millions of Indians who depend on the railways for their daily commute.