According to a recent notification issued by the ministry, the awardees will be provided 1st and 2nd Class AC Complimentary Card passes on the lines as admissible to Defence awardees.
"The procedure and conditions for issue of such passes to civilian Chakra awardees will remain the same as applicable to Defence awardees," it said.
As per extant policy, Railway Ministry provides 1st Class and 2nd AC Complimentary Card passes to Defence personnel recipients of gallantry awards of Chakra series and to widows of posthumous gallantry awardees of Chakra series. viz. Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.
The pass entitles them life-long free rail travel in 1st Class or 2nd AC Class along with one companion in same class over all India Railways except Metro Railway in Kolkata.
From now on, this facility will now be available to both civilian and defence personnel recipients of Chakra Awards.