Union Budget 2023: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the last general budget of the second term of the Modi government on February 1, 2023. In this upcoming budget, taxpayers as well as railways and other sectors have high hopes.
For the last few years, the government has not given relief to the taxpayers in the budget. In such a situation, in the upcoming budget 2023, along with taxation, senior citizens are expected to get exemption.
In the upcoming budget, senior citizens can be given concession in rail fare. During the Covid-19 epidemic, these people are not being given tax exemption. Till now, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has not made any promise to give exemption to senior citizens on rail fare. In such a situation, the common man hopes that in the last session of his second term, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman can announce a rebate in rail fares.
Railways made tremendous profit
In the last few months, Railways has earned tremendously. According to the data presented by the Railways, during April 2022 to December 2022 i.e. during 9 months, Railways has earned 48,913 crores only from rail fares. At the same time last year, 71 percent earnings have increased in this period. Due to the strong earnings made by the Railways, it is expected that senior citizens can get a discount on the fare.
How much discount did senior citizens get?
Before the Corona period, railway employees were given exemption in fare, but due to Covid it has been stopped since 2019. Since then, elderly people have not been able to get exemption in rent. Earlier, persons above 60 years of age were given 40 per cent concession in fares, while women above 58 years of age were given 50 per cent concession in fares.
53 percent discount on rail passenger fare Answering a question in the Parliament, the Ministry of Railways had said that on an average 53 per cent discount is given to all passengers traveling by railways. Apart from this, Railways also gives relaxation to Divyangjan, students and patients. The Railway Minister had said in Parliament that in 2019-20, Railways has given a subsidy of Rs 59,837 crore on passenger tickets. This means that on an average 53 per cent concession has been given.
