Title - Public urged to avail railway concessions

Guwahati: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has called upon the general public, including students, to avail of the various concessions provided under the concession rules.

NFR PRO Nripen Bhattacharya said that lack of public awareness has meant that various schemes including free travelling facilities to students and the ‘Izzat’ monthly season tickets (MTS) have virtually secured no response in Assam, mainly in Guwahati area.

Girls up to graduation level in BA/BSc/BCom and boys up to 12th standard, including students of Madrasa, can avail of free MTS in general second class between their places of residence and school within range of 150 km during the school season. The tickets have to be renewed every month.

“However, in recent years not even a single inquiry has been received at the Guwahati railway station regarding the facility. This is mainly due to the fact that people are not aware. In contrast, such schemes are very popular in many other States,” Bhattacharya said.

He also added that other schemes like the ‘Izzat’, whereby persons with monthly income not exceeding 1,500 working in unorganised sectors can avail of MTS at a nominal charge of Rs 25 for journeys up to maximum 100 km.

“There are some people who use the Izaat tickets, but their numbers are very less. We want more people to avail of that scheme,” Bhattacharya said.

He said that a person coming from Ghagrapar to Guwahati have to spend around Rs 40 and change buses for a one-way journey. “A similar journey can be undertaken at almost free and in much more comfort in a train. But we find very few takers,” the senior official said.

Bhattacharya added there are a plethora of such concession schemes, including patients suffering from ailments like cancer, thalassemia, heart or kidney ailments who can avail of various schemes along with one escort.

Besides, concession schemes also exist for students studying outside the State (who can avail 50 per cent concession during holiday season), and for farmers, widows of defence personnel, artists and farmers, among others.