Indian Railways has brought a great news for senior citizens, ending the long wait. For the past few years, special discounts or concessions for senior citizens on railway tickets were discontinued, which caused both anger and disappointment among the common people. But now, to overcome that disappointment, Indian Railways is once again going to take special initiatives for the convenience of senior citizens.
According to railway sources, this step is being taken with the aim of making the travel of senior passengers more affordable, comfortable and easy. Basically, the Railway Ministry is on the way to re-introducing two major facilities.
Big discount on ticket prices is returning
The biggest relief news for senior citizens in rail travel is the return of discount on ticket prices. This discount will greatly reduce the pressure on the pockets of passengers in long-distance train travel. This decision of the railways will benefit senior passengers a lot financially. Not only the discount on fares, but also the emphasis is on providing priority assistance to the elderly during rail travel and ensuring comfortable seats. It is believed that this positive step of the railway authorities will bring smiles to the faces of the common people.
Who will get this special benefit?
Indian Railways has set some specific rules and qualifications to get this benefit. Not everyone will be covered by this discount. According to the railway rules, the qualifications are as follows:
Age limit: To enjoy this benefit of the railway, the age of the passenger must be within a certain range.
For male passengers: Men aged 60 years or above can apply for this discount.
For female passengers: Women aged 58 years or above will get this special benefit.
Required Documents: It is mandatory for passengers to carry a valid government document as proof of age at the time of booking the ticket or during the train journey.
Ticket Booking and Lower Berth Benefits
This discount will be available on providing the correct proof of age at the time of booking the ticket both online and offline. Also, one of the biggest problems faced by senior citizens in train travel is getting on the upper berth. To solve this problem, the Railways has made special arrangements. While booking the ticket, senior citizens will get the opportunity to choose the seat of their choice and ‘lower berth’ or lower seat. With the resumption of these facilities, the number of senior passengers on various routes is expected to increase significantly.