India's Rail Fares Cheapest Globally Due to ₹60,000 Cr Subsidy: Vaishnaw

• Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that train travel in India is the most affordable globally, including compared to neighboring and developed countries.
• Indian Railways provided a ₹60,000 crore subsidy last year to maintain low ticket prices for passengers.
• The minister's comments came in response to a Lok Sabha question about restoring senior citizen rail ticket discounts.
• Vaishnaw noted that a direct cost comparison for hydrogen-fueled trains is unfair as it's a pilot project.
• Manufacturing of the hydrogen train-set is complete, and a green hydrogen plant is planned at Jind to supply it.

Why It Matters: Indian train travel is uniquely affordable due to massive government subsidies.