NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, DEC 4
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday informed that a total subsidy of Rs 56,993 crore is given every year by the Indian Railways to all categories of passengers, with a 46 per cent rebate on every ticket.
“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. The minister also clarified that for a ticket priced at Rs 100, Indian Railways charges just Rs 54—a 46 per cent discount.
- The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail between Bhuj and Ahmedabad covers 359 km in 5 hours 45 minutes
- Four years since, the 50 per cent discount for female senior citizens and 40 per cent discount for male and transgender senior citizens is yet to be restored
- ‘If needed, sit on dharna…’ Ashwini Vaishnaw to Shashi Tharoor In Lok Sabha
Back in March 2020, railways removed discounts offered on train fares to senior citizens and women, citing pandemic regulations. Four years since, the 50 per cent discount for female senior citizens and 40 per cent discount for male and transgender senior citizens is yet to be restored.
During the budget season earlier this year, Vaishnaw remarked that restoring concessions would add to the central government’s financial burden.
Among other questions the railway minister answered this winter session, it was revealed that Gujarat gained with the “Namo Bharat Rapid Rail” while Kerala hit yet another roadblock with the K-Rail project.
The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail between Bhuj and Ahmedabad covers 359km in 5 hours 45 minutes and was lauded by passengers for its superior service, according to the minister.
The Indian Railways earned a whopping Rs 12,159 crore in September and October alone this year.
According to Vaishnaw, who presented the data in the parliament last week, 143.71 crore people travelled in the two months, with 31.63 crore passengers transiting in the Central Railways zone alone. On account of the festival season, Indian Railways notified 7,983 special train trips from October 1 through November 30, added the minister.
‘If needed, sit on dharna…’ Ashwini Vaishnaw to Shashi Tharoor In Lok Sabha
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday suggested in the Lok Sabha that, if required, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor can sit on a ‘dharna’ (protest) for acquiring land for a railway project in Kerala.
Vaishnaw’s comments came while replying to a question on the Nemom railway terminal project in Thiruvananthapuram, which is Mr Tharoor’s constituency.
During Question Hour, the Congress leader mentioned the delay and insufficient funds for the project, which can help decongest the railway line to Thiruvananthapuram Central.
In response, Vaishnaw said the government’s focus is to make sure the big cities and junctions are decongested, new terminals are built and that a lot of emphasis is given on designing them so that the demands and requirements of next 50 years are met.
“The question in Kerala is not of funds. We have already deposited ₹ 2,150 crore for acquiring land… I would request Shashi Tharoor ji, a very influential MP whom entire Kerala listens to, if required, to sit on a ‘dharna’ in front of the honourable state government and make sure that the land is acquired,” Vaishnaw said.
However, in a written reply to Congress MP Hibi Eden on the K-Rail project, Vaishnaw confirmed that the Silver Line planned through the length of the state from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod was not yet sanctioned due to deficiencies in the project report.
