(a) whether the Private Agencies engaged in VP/SLR/AGC for parcel booking are charging more
than the original tariff fixed by the Railways as a result the common public are being
exploited by the well-organised parcel mafia functioning with the connivance of the railway
officials; and
(b) if so, the number of complaints received during the last one year in this regard, zone-wise
along with the steps taken/being taken by the Railways in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY )
(a) & (b) Parcel space of the Assistant Guard’s Cabins (AGCs), Brakevans (SLRs) and Parcel Vans
(VPs) is leased out by the Railways to the private parties by inviting bids through open tenders.
The reserve price for leasing of Assistant Guard’s Cabins (AGCs) and Brakevans (SLRs) is fixed
by the Railways at par with the tariff rates applicable for booking of parcels by that train.
The leaseholder aggregates the parcels from different customers and offers the consolidated
cargo to the Railways for transportation in the leased space between specific pair of points.
Marketing, aggregation, distribution, loading and unloading of parcels is done by the leaseholder
. In lieu of providing value added door-to-door service, the leaseholder collects some
remuneration from their customers, to which Railway Administration has no concern. However, one
compartment of the Brakevan of each passenger carrying train remains with railways for the
clearance of newspapers, luggage, pet etc. from originating as well as from intermediate
station(s), wherein parcels are booked by the Railways on tariff rates applicable for such
booking.