Nuclear Energy to Energize Railways: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Indian Railways' escalating energy needs are set to be addressed with nuclear power, according to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He highlighted ongoing discussions with the Power Ministry and NPCIL for energy allocation.
Key Takeaways
- Indian Railways plans to utilize nuclear power for energy.
- Coordination with Nuclear Power Corporation underway.
- Significant subsidies provided for passenger fares.
- Concessions for special categories of passengers.
- Reservation quotas for elderly and women in trains.
New Delhi, Feb 9 (NationPress) The increasing energy demands of Indian Railways (IR) are expected to be fulfilled by clean and reliable nuclear energy, as indicated by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who has reached out to the Power Ministry. The Railway Ministry is coordinating with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the Ministry of Power (MoP) to secure nuclear power to satisfy a portion of its traction energy needs, he mentioned in a recent statement to the Rajya Sabha.
He emphasized that Indian Railways is actively looking into obtaining energy from both existing and future nuclear power facilities.
According to him, utilizing nuclear power, which is a clean and reliable energy source, will significantly assist the railways in minimizing reliance on fossil fuels, thus reducing carbon emissions.
Regarding ticket fare concessions for travelers, the Minister disclosed that Indian Railways provided a subsidy of ₹56,993 crore on passenger tickets during the fiscal year 2022-23.
This translates to an average concession of 46 percent for every individual traveling by train, which means if the service cost is ₹100, the ticket price is merely ₹54.
"This subsidy remains in effect for all travelers. Additionally, there are further concessions available beyond this subsidy for various groups, including Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjans), eleven categories of patients, and eight categories of students," he stated.
The Union Minister noted that the number of travelers benefiting from concessions across different classes and trains in various Zonal Railways fluctuates annually.
From the financial years 2020-21 to 2024-25 (up to December 2024), around 2,357.8 crore passengers of all ages (including senior citizens) utilized Indian Railways, he added.
Furthermore, he pointed out that to facilitate travel for the elderly and women, Indian Railways designates a combined reservation quota of six to seven lower berths per coach in sleeper class, four to five lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 3 tier (3AC), and three to four lower berths per coach in Air Conditioned 2 tier (2AC) classes (based on the number of coaches in that class on the train) for senior citizens, female passengers aged 45 and over, and pregnant women.
