RAIL TRAVEL CONCESSION TO ACCREDITED
MEDIA PERSONS FROM MAY 1
The Ministry of Railways
has issued a notification granting 30 per cent concession in rail
tickets of all classes of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi
Express trains to all media persons accredited to Headquarters
of the Government of India, State Governments and Union Territories
and Districts with prospective effect from May 1, 2003. The coupon
books will be issued on production of a certificate within one
month of the date of issue, signed by a designated Deputy Principal
Information Officer of the Press Information Bureau, Director
of Information and Publicity of State Government, District Public
Relations Officer or District Collector.
The distance
limit for place of residence being within 25 kilometres of the
concerned capital or headquarters for issue of concession coupon
books to media persons has been removed. The existing limit of
30,000 kilometres per annum per media person has also been dispensed
with. The coupon books now will be valid for unlimited travel
in a year. The grant of 30 per cent concession will be on the
basis of all-inclusive fares of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi
group of trains.
The Zonal Railways
have been directed to print new series of coupon books with the
words "2003 SERIES" to be printed diagonally in bold
letters on the top of each coupon.
As against the
existing system of selling coupon books at half rates, the new
series of coupon books will be sold at full rates without any
concession from different stations. These coupons books will be
valid for purchasing tickets for mail, express and Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan
Shatabdi group of trains. The concessional fare will be calculated
in the same way as other concessions. Besides, as against the
existing system wherein the basic fares is collected through coupons
and other charges in cash, now the total fare of ticket will be
collected through coupons of
new series. The new series of coupons will be available for sales
on and after May 1, 2003.
Existing coupon
books, already sold at 50 per cent concession, shall be valid
for purchasing tickets for Mail and Express trains for journeys
commencing upto April 30, 2003 only. Thereafter, these coupon
books will not be valid. Only the new 2003 series of coupon books
will be valid.
The existing
coupons will be allowed to be refunded after deducting the element
of 50 per cent concession for a period of three months from May
1, 2003 to July 31, 2003 only. Thereafter, no refund will be granted
under any circumstances.
The use of coupons
will be limited to payment of fares of passengers tickets at booking
offices. Coupon shall not be acceptable in the train under any
circumstances, in which case the amount shall be recovered in
full, in cash without any concession.
All the charges
on passenger ticket will be accepted through coupons. Coupon books
will be valid for issue of single or return journey tickets. However,
these coupons will not be valid for purchase of season tickets,
circular journey tickets, tickets for local or suburban or passenger
trains and payment of excess fare or penalty.
Element of concession
will be 50 per cent in basic mail and express fares of all classes.
Concession, however, will not be admissible to surcharges like
reservation fees, supplementary surcharge on superfast trains
and safety surcharge. Thirty per cent concession in all-inclusive
fares of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Jan Shatabadi group of trains
will, however, exclude safety surcharge. Besides, concession of
any other type will not admissible in exchange of the coupons.
Coupon books
will be available in three denomination of Rs. 1000, Rs. 5000
and Rs. 10,000 each. Its life will be three years from the date
of issue.
Refunds
on unused coupons returned to the Railway Administration concerned
by the accredited media persons will be granted after deduction
of 10 per cent on the value of unused coupons provided they are
returned to the Railways within the period of their validity.
