OREANDA-NEWS. April 26, 2012. As announced by the Minister of Railways in the Railway Budget Speech for 2012-13, the Ministry of Railways has decided to grant concession in train fares to patients suffering' from Sickle Cell Anaemia/Aplastic Anaemia, when travelling for treatment/periodical check-up to the Government recognised hospitals, and return after treatment/periodical check-up. The element of concession will be 50 per cent in the basic fares of Sleeper, AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier and AC 2-tier classes.

 The concession will not be admissible in Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi/Duronto/Garib Rath trains. The decision will come into effect on tickets issued from June 1, 2012.

 The concession will be admissible in basic Mail/Express fares only and not in other charges, like reservation fee, superfast surcharge, Development Surcharge, etc., which shall be recovered in full as per existing rules. Concession will be granted directly by Station Masters on production of the certificate in prescribed form issued by Officer-in-Charge of the Government recognized Hospital where the patient is being treated.

 Concession will be admissible without any Minimum distance limit, subject to the distance restrictions otherwise applicable in individual Mail/Express trains.