Indian Railways providing 47 per cent travel subsidy to passengers: Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Indian Railways is not only providing safe and quality services to passengers at affordable fares but is also making a distinct identity at the global level, the minister said during the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Railways in the Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Indian Railways is providing more subsidy to passengers as the cost of travel per km by train is Rs 1.38 but passengers are charged only 73 paise — meaning 47 per cent subsidy, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed.

The Indian Railways is not only providing safe and quality services to passengers at affordable fares but is also making a distinct identity at the global level, the minister said during the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Railways in the Rajya Sabha.

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He mentioned that in India, railway fares are lower compared to neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, whereas in Western countries, they are 10 to 20 times higher than in India.

In the financial year 2022-23, passengers were given a subsidy of Rs 57,000 crore, which increased to approximately Rs 60,000 crore in 2023-24 (provisional figure).

“Our goal is to provide safe and better services at minimal fares,” said the minister. Highlighting the benefits of railway electrification, the Union Minister said that despite the increasing number of passengers and freight transport, energy costs have remained stable.

The Indian Railways is working on the target of achieving ‘Scope 1 Net Zero’ by 2025 and ‘Scope 2 Net Zero’ by 2030. He informed that the export of locomotives manufactured at the Madhepura factory in Bihar will begin soon.

Currently, Indian Railways’ passenger coaches are being exported to Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, while locomotives are being sent to Mozambique, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.

Apart from this, bogie underframes are being exported to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, France, and Australia, while propulsion parts are being sent to France, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Romania, and Italy.

This year, 1,400 locomotives have been produced in India, which is more than the combined production of America and Europe. Along with this, 2 lakh new wagons have been added to the fleet. The Minister stated that in the financial year ending March 31, Indian Railways will transport 1.6 billion tons of cargo, making India one of the top three countries in the world, including China and America.

This reflects the increasing capacity of the railway and its significant role in the logistics sector. Vaishnaw assured that the railway would emerge as a more modern, safe, and environmentally friendly transportation system in the future.