You will be shocked to know the amount spent on the train tickets of MPs, the burden of so many crores on the government treasury
Train
Highlights
- 62 crores spent on tickets from the exchequer in the last five years
- Former MP also exempted from traveling in AC-2 tier or AC-1
- Railways has put on hold many exemptions given to senior citizens
Lok Sabha The facility of free travel in trains to the existing and former members of the State Government has cost the exchequer Rs 62 crore in the last five years. According to the information received under the Right to Information (RTI), during the global epidemic of Corona, about Rs 2.5 crore has been spent on such trips in 2020-21. The sitting MPs are eligible for free travel in first class air-conditioned class or executive class of railways. Their spouses can also travel free of cost with certain conditions.
Ex-MPs are also allowed to travel for free
Ex-MPs are also eligible to travel free of cost in AC-2 tier along with their companions or alone in AC-1 tier. RTI activist Chandrashekhar Gaur from Madhya Pradesh had sought information in this regard. In response to this, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said that it has received a bill of Rs 35.21 crore from the Railways for the travel of sitting MPs in 2017-18 and 2021-22 and Rs 26.82 crore for the travel of former MPs. The RTI reply said that MPs and former MPs also used railway passes in the year 2020-21 in the outbreak of the pandemic, their bills were Rs 1.29 crore and Rs 1.18 crore respectively.
Senior citizens exemption abolished
The Railways has put on hold several exemptions given to various categories of passengers, including senior citizens, which has caused outrage among some sections. The move to end subsidies given to senior citizens has also been criticized.
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