Amritsar: No clarity on train fare, no rebate irks passengers, senior citizens

Amritsar, July 24

Seven years after the Indian Government ended 92-year-old practice of presenting a separate Railway Budget in 2017, several citizen-centric demands, which are pending, are yet to be raised again.

The Union Cabinet approved merger of the separate Rail Budget with the General Budget in 2016. This decision snatched the opportunity from the common people to read in depth reports on expansion plans for trains and Budget’s thrust areas for the year ahead. Narinder Singh, city resident

Commuters often reason with Railway officials about exact fare of different categories for train travel, introduction of new trains and expansion of those which are already running. Now, the entire Rail Budget is summed up in a compact speech with no clarity on train ticket fare. Senior citizens are no longer offered rebate for travelling by train.

Narinder Singh, a city resident, said the Union Cabinet had approved merger of the separate Rail Budget with the General Budget in 2016. He said the decision snatched the opportunity from the common people to read in depth reports on expansion plans for trains, Budget’s thrust areas for the year ahead and safety measures to be adopted for passengers, trains and Railway installations.

Surinder Singh, a senior citizen, said the Central Government should acquire modern technology, improve meals in trains and add new features for the convenience of passengers in trains.