Congress 2024 Manifesto: Railway Modernisation, Kavach Rollout, And Senior Citizen Concessions Promised

In its 2024 Lok Sabha manifesto, the Congress party has promised to modernise the railway infrastructure, referring to the mass transporter as the 'hardware of the economy.'

"We will modernise the outdated railway infrastructure but in doing so we will ensure that trains and stations serve the needs of the common people and commuters," the party said in its manifesto.

The railway services and facilities available to the poor and middle classes will be continued, the manifesto further added.

Interestingly, the manifesto also mentions the network-wide rollout of Kavach. For the uninitiated, Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the Indian industry.

"KAVACH, an anti-collision device, was developed during the term of the UPA. KAVACH will be installed in all train engines and routes to improve passenger safety on Indian railways," said the manifesto.

The manifesto also promises to reinstate travel concessions for senior citizens in public transport, including trains and buses.

On 20 March 2020, the Railway Ministry halted the discounts on train fares for senior citizens after a countrywide lockdown was announced due to Covid-19.

Before that, female senior citizens received a 50 per cent discount, while male and transgender seniors received a 40 per cent concession on train fares.

Since its withdrawal, senior citizens have been required to pay the full fare like other passengers for train travel. According to railway regulations, males and transgender individuals aged 60 and above, and females aged 58 and above qualify as senior citizens.

Congress leaders, including President Mallikarjun Kharge, Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, unveiled the party's Lok Sabha manifesto, known as 'Nyay Patra,' in New Delhi on 5 March.