Indian Railways Offers 47% Travel Subsidy to Passengers: Ashwini Vaishnaw
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Synopsis
Indian Railways is increasing passenger subsidies, charging only 73 paise for a travel cost of Rs 1.38 per km. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlines goals for affordable, safe services and aims for Net Zero emissions by 2025 and 2030. The railway is also expanding its export operations.
Key Takeaways
- 47% travel subsidy for passengers
- Railway fares significantly lower than Western countries
- Rs 60,000 crore subsidy projected for 2023-24
- Ambitious Net Zero goals
- Increasing export of locomotives and coaches
New Delhi, March 18 (NationPress) Indian Railways is extending a greater subsidy to its passengers, as the travel cost per kilometer is Rs 1.38, while passengers are only charged 73 paise—indicating a 47 percent subsidy, as shared by Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The Indian Railways is committed to providing safe and high-quality services to passengers at affordable fares while simultaneously establishing a unique identity on a global scale, the minister remarked during the discussion regarding the operations of the Ministry of Railways in the Rajya Sabha.
He pointed out that railway fares in India are lower than those in neighboring nations such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, whereas in Western countries, fares can be 10 to 20 times higher than those in India.
In the financial year 2022-23, the subsidy provided to passengers amounted to Rs 57,000 crore, which is set to rise to approximately Rs 60,000 crore in 2023-24 (provisional figure).
“Our objective is to deliver safe and better services at minimal fares,” the minister stated.
Emphasizing the advantages of railway electrification, the Union Minister noted that energy costs have remained stable despite the growing number of passengers and freight transport.
The Indian Railways is aiming to achieve ‘Scope 1 Net Zero’ by 2025 and ‘Scope 2 Net Zero’ by 2030.
He announced that the export of locomotives manufactured at the Madhepura factory in Bihar will commence shortly.
Currently, passenger coaches from Indian Railways are being exported to Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, while locomotives are dispatched to Mozambique, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
Additionally, bogie underframes are being exported to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, France, and Australia, while propulsion parts are sent to France, Mexico, Germany, Spain, Romania, and Italy.
This year, 1,400 locomotives have been produced in India, surpassing the combined output of America and Europe.
Moreover, 2 lakh new wagons have been incorporated into the fleet. The Minister indicated that by the end of March, Indian Railways will transport 1.6 billion tons of cargo, positioning India among the top three countries globally alongside China and America.
This underscores the growing capacity of the railway and its significant role in the logistics sector.
Vaishnaw assured that the railway is poised to become a more modern, safe, and environmentally friendly transportation system in the future.
