The Indian Railways continue to provide a significant subsidy on passenger tickets, despite the removal of pre-Covid concessions for various categories. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the government provided a total subsidy of Rs. 59,837 crore on passenger tickets in 2019-20, which translates to an average concession of 53% per passenger. This subsidy continues to benefit all passengers.
While pre-Covid concessions for specific categories have been removed, the government continues to offer concessions for various groups, including four categories of persons with disabilities, 11 categories of patients, and eight categories of students. Around 18 lakh patients and their escorts availed this special concession during 2022-23.
The minister acknowledged receiving requests for the restoration of concessions through various channels and assured due consideration for these requests. This suggests that the government remains open to exploring options for providing targeted concessions in the future.
