Seniors can forgo train concession

New Delhi, June 26

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Eager to reduce its huge subsidy burden, the Indian Railway has now given senior citizens the option of forgoing concession on purchase of reserved class tickets.

Besides, it has started printing the real cost involved in the train journey on the tickets to make passengers aware of the subsidy borne by the public transporter. Subsidies cost the public sector behemoth about Rs1,600 crore in the last fiscal on account of concessions to passengers in various categories, including senior citizens, sports awardees and cancer patients.

There are 55 categories of passengers who are eligible for availing of concession on purchase of train tickets. The maximum number of concessions is availed by the senior citizens, which alone put a subsidy burden of Rs1,100 crore on the transporter last year. — PTI