Question : CANCELLATION OF TRAINS

(a) the total number of trains, both passenger and goods that were cancelled due to Bandhs/blockade/agitations during the last three years and the current year, year-wise, zone-wise;

(b) the details of the total loss suffered by the Railways due to such incidents;

(c) whether passengers are only compensated for accidents by the Railways and are not compensated for loss of time and money due to cancellation of trains;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the Railways have any proposal to give compensation to passengers or traders for losses due to bandhs/blockade/agitations;

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (g) the steps taken/being taken by the Railways in the light of various directions given by the courts for punitive and remedial measures against agitations?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY)

(a) to (g) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1211 BY SHRI NARAHARI MAHATO TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 12.12.2013 REGARDING CANCELLATION OF TRAINS.

(a) The total number of passenger carrying trains cancelled during the last three years 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-14 (Upto November)due to Bandhs/blockade/agitations, year-wise, zone-wise is appended.
There is no concept of goods train cancellation.

(b) The loss is not calculated train wise of passenger carrying trains.
(c) Passengers are compensated for death/injury due to train accidents as defined under Sec. 124 of the Railway Act, 1989.

(d) Passengers who lose their life or are injured due to train accidents are paid compensation by the Railways after a claim is filed by the claimant in the Railway Claims Tribunal and is decreed by the Tribunal in favour of the claimant and the decree so awarded is decided to be satisfied by the Railways.

(e) & (f) No compensation is admissible as per Indian Railway Act. However, refund of fare is granted as per rule in case of cancellation /late running of trains by more than three hours, subject to the condition that the ticket is surrendered within the stipulated period.

(g) Policing in Railways is a State subject and prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law and order in Railway premises as well as on running trains are the statutory responsibility of the State Police, which they discharge through Government Railway Police (GRP) of the State concerned. As such the cases of crime on Railways are reported to, registered and investigated by the government Railway Police.

Agitations like Bandhs/Dharna /Squatting on Railway track etc. Staged by various groups/organizations are primarily law and order situation. Since maintenance of law and order in the Railway premises is the statutory responsibility of the State Government concerned, such agitations are primarily tackled by the concerned State Government. However, Railway Protection Force supplements the efforts of Local Police/GRP in such situations.