NEW DELHI: In a big relief to specially-able passengers, Railway has announced a policy allowing them to avail concession in fare while travelling alone. At present, concessional tickets were not issued to them if they were not accompanied by an escort.
Railways said that orthopedically handicapped/paraplegic and mentally retarded persons who cannot travel without escort and blind persons travelling alone or with an escort - for any purpose - will get 75 percent concession in second, sleeper first, AC chair car and AC 3 Tier. According to railway, this will help in increasing the self esteem of these persons.
They will get 50 percent in first class and AC 2-tier, 25 percent in AC 3-tier and AC Chair Car of Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains. They will also be eligible for 50 percent concession in monthly and quarterly season tickets.
Deaf and mute persons travelling alone or with an escort will get 50 percent concession in second, sleeper and first class. They will get 50 percent concession in monthly and quarterly season tickets.
One escort is also eligible for the same element of concession in respective categories, said a railway officer.
Some railway officers warned of misused.
“We know that anyone can get a handicap certificate avail the railway concession. Earlier it used to be like that differently able person needs to carry an escort and ticket has to be booked for two persons but now they are allowed to travel alone which means there are chances for more people to misuse it,” said a senior railway ministry official.