RS/Q &A RESTORING CONCESSIONS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS 287 SHRI BINOY VISWAM: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

 MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.287 ANSWERED ON 03.02.2023 RESTORING CONCESSIONS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS 287 SHRI BINOY VISWAM: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: 

(a) Whether Railways have taken cognizance of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways’ recommendation to restore concessions in trains for senior citizens; 

(b) whether all the trains that were discontinued due to the pandemic, have resumed full operations, if not, whether Railways intend to do so, and by when; and

 (c) whether there are any railway station stoppages that have not yet been resumed after the COVID lockdown, if so, by when Railways intend to resume these stoppages? 

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) 

(a): Standing Committee on Railways has advised to review and consider concession to senior citizens at least in sleeper and 3 AC. Government gave subsidy of `59,837 Crore on passenger tickets in 2019-20. This amounts to concession of 53% on an average, to every person, travelling on Railways. This subsidy is continuing for all passengers. Further concessions beyond this subsidy amount are continuing for many categories like Divyangjans, students and patients.

 (b) & (c): With a view to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, Indian Railways had discontinued the operation of all regular passenger carrying trains with effect from 23rd March, 2020 and only special train services were being operated. Since November-2021, Mail/express train services are being operated as per rationalized timetable and regular numbers. The passenger services are being operationalised in a phased manner. Indian Railways is keeping a close watch on the situation and regulating operations of trains accordingly. As regards stoppage, it is stated that Indian Railways have undertaken rationalization of the time table in a scientific manner with the assistance of IIT-Bombay. The exercise has been undertaken inter alia to provide for better passenger safety by creating maintenance corridor blocks, minimizing conflicts in existing time table and generation of additional path for freight traffic.