Question : RAIL CONCESSION TO DOCTORS

(a) whether the Railways have recently announced some concessions for doctors in fares:

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the time by which it is likely to be implemented;

(d) the criteria and rules on the basis of which concessional passes to different categories of social, labour-related, spiritual talented persons and institutions are issued by the Railways;

(e) the details of the number of such new passes issued from January 1, 2000 till date;

(f) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the misuse of such passes by the pass holders or received any complaints regarding the misuse for personal work or in any other manner; and

(g) if so, the details thereof and the action taken against the misusers?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI BANDARU DATTATRAYA)

(a) to (c): 10% concession in Mail/Express basic fares of all classes and fares of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi group of trains has been granted to Doctors with minimum qualification of M.B.B.S. with effect from 1.3.2003. This concession is granted directly from the stations/reservation offices on production of the requisite undertaking.

(d): There is no concept of `Concessional Passes` on Indian Railways.

(e) to (g): Do not arise.