Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav
Parliamentary proceedings are currently running smoothly after the first five days of the winter session were disrupted due to agitation by opposition MPs. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Wednesday said that every railway passenger in the country will get 46 per cent subsidy on their ticket. He also said that the world’s largest railway station upgrading project is underway in India.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, while answering a supplementary question during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, also said that every railway passenger gets around 46% subsidy on their tickets. The Ministry of Railways spends Rs 56,993 crore annually on passenger subsidies.
Railway Minister: Passenger fare is only Rs 54
On the possibility of reviving the subsidy previously provided to senior citizens and journalists, Railway Minister Vaishnav said: “The Government of India provides a total of Rs 56,993 crore in subsidies to railway passengers every year. For every Rs 100 of travel services, only Rs 100 will be charged to the passengers. 54 rupees. 46% subsidy for all categories of passengers.”
In response to a supplementary question, Railway Minister Vaishnav also said that just as the entire country was connected by roads during the central government led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, small national railways have Connected, a medium-sized railway station is under construction.
World’s biggest upgrade: Railway Minister Vaishnav
Regarding the upgrading of railway stations in the country, the Railway Minister said that the government has launched the largest railway station upgrading plan so far. Upgrading of the world’s largest railway station is underway in India. Currently, about 1,300 railway stations across the country are undergoing upgrading and renovation.
When Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar asked the Railway Minister about the plan to restore railway fare concessions for sportsmen, Railway Minister Vaishnav said that the Ministry of Railways has set a target of providing travel subsidy to every passenger.
Maharashtra MP Praniti Shinde repeated the question and asked if any individual concessions were given to the players. Meanwhile, Congress MP Durai Vaiko raised a question regarding removal of senior citizen concession, to which the Railway Minister reiterated his reply and said that all passengers are being fully subsidized by the Centre.
MP Baru: The state is not guilty of incomplete railway projects
Earlier, Lok Sabha member TR Baalu said the Center cannot blame the state government for the non-completion of railway projects. Replying to MP Hibi Eden’s question on pending railway projects in Kerala, the railway minister told the House that part of the reason was issues related to land acquisition by the state.
In this regard, MP Balu pointed out some pending projects in Tamil Nadu and said that the state cannot be held solely responsible for the unfinished railway projects. In such cases, the center should try to contact the government.
