- By Mayukh Debnath
- Sun, 26 Nov 2023 01:05 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Indian Railways Concessions: The passenger services of Indian Railways are availed by several million people daily for purposes ranging from day-to-day commute to long-distance journeys. However, there are many among these millions who are affected by various kinds of disabilities or by life-threatening or chronic medical conditions and are under financial distress due to their limited earning opportunities or costs incurred on treatments.
Moreover, specially abled people and those with serious health conditions often require an escort' to assist them throughout their journeys. Hence, Indian Railways offers special concessions on train fares for various categories of passengers affected by disablities and chronic health conditions travelling for treatment and other purposes to ease the financial burden on them and their families.
Apart from concession on fares for long-distance journeys, Indian Railways also provides Quarterly Season Tickets (QSTs) and Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) for specially abled passengers who undertake regular commutes.
Some Of The Disabilities, Medical Conditions For Which Fare Concessions Are Available:
Orthopaedically handicapped/paraplegic individuals, mentally retarded persons, and individuals with complete visual impairment are eligible for concessions of up to 75% on train tickets for any-purpose travel. Following are the percentage elements of concession applicable to the said categories of people:
- 75% in 2S, SL, 3AC, AC Chair Car
- 50% in 1AC and 2 AC
- 25% in 3AC & AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains
- 50% in MST & QST
One escort' is also eligible for same element of concession.
Persons affected by total hearing and speech impairement (both afflictions together in the same person) are eigible for 50% discount on 2S, SL tickets and on MSTs and QSTs.
Cancer patients travelling alone or with an escort' for treatment or periodic check-ups are eligible for 75% concession in 2S, AC Chair Car fares, 100% waiver in SL & 3AC fares, and 50% discount in 1AC & 2AC ticket prices.
Thalassemia patients travelling for treatment or periodic check-ups, heart patients travelling for heart surgery, and kidney patients traveling for transplant procedures or dialysis are entitled to the following percentage elements of concession on train tickets:
- 75% in 2nd class, SL, 3AC, AC chair car
- 50% in 1AC, 2AC
The aforementioned elements of concession apply irrespective of whether the thalassemia/heart/kidney patient is travelling alone or with an escort'. One escort' is also eligible for the same element of concession.