Ahead of the railway budget for 2012-13, elderly people here asked Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi to make provision of 50 per cent concession in train travel for all senior citizens.

Presently male senior citizens are provided 30 per cent and women 50 per cent concession in train travel.

"We have urged the railway minister to make equal concession for both male and female senior citizens," said president of Ganjam district retired government employeesÂ’ association Arjuna Sahu.

A resolution adopted in the association meeting here has been dispatched to the railway minister urging him to make such provision in the ensuing railway budget, general secretary of the association Rasa Bihari Das said.

The association has also urged the minister to set up a separate ticket counter for the senior citizens in all major railway stations in the state including Berhampur. Old aged persons are facing much difficulty while standing in long queues to get a ticket from the general counter.

Meanwhile, the trust that runs the famous Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi in Maharashtra on Wednesday urged the Railway Ministry to provide 50 per cent concession in rail fares to devotees travelling there during festival season. 

They also demanded that the railway station in Shirdi be upgraded with modern amenities as thousands of pilgrims arrive there to visit the temple. 

The trust asked the Railway Minister that a Rail Yatri Niwas be established at Shirdi and nearby railway stations like Manmad so that devotees can have a comfortable place to stay. 

Since 85 per cent of the visitors to the temple come from Andhra Pradesh, a trustee, Mr. Ashok Khambeker also demanded that more trains be launched from the state. He also demanded that Shirdi be connected directly with Delhi by train.