Now Reading: Railways subsidises Rs 500 ticket by Rs 377, reveals Lok Sabha data
-
01
Railways subsidises Rs 500 ticket by Rs 377, reveals Lok Sabha data
The government told Lok Sabha that Indian Railways gives an average 43% subsidy on passenger tickets. For a Rs 500 ticket, this means the railway bears about Rs 377 of the actual…
The Story in Brief
The government told Lok Sabha that Indian Railways gives an average 43% subsidy on passenger tickets. For a Rs 500 ticket, this means the railway bears about Rs 377 of the actual travel cost of roughly Rs 877. In FY 2024-25, total passenger fare subsidy stood at Rs 60,239 crore, the railway ministry said.
The subsidy is given to all passengers, not just reserved classes. The 43% figure is an average across all trains, routes, and classes. The actual subsidy on a specific ticket may vary. The railway also offers separate concessions for senior citizens and disabled passengers.
The Indian Opinion
The Rs 377 subsidy on a Rs 500 ticket sounds generous until you recall that Indian Railways also cross-subsidises passenger fares with freight revenue, making goods transport costlier. The real question is whether passengers prefer hidden subsidy or transparent fares. Watch for the Railway Board's next tariff review: will it gradually raise passenger fares or keep the crutch forever?
Source: aajtak.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
