(a) whether the Government are aware that rail passengers face lot of problems due to illegal coolies and illegal vendors at railway stations;
(b) if so, whether Government have conducted preventive enquiry in each division during the last three years and current year to deal with this type of situation; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI DIGVIJAY SINGH)
(a) to (c): Some cases of passengers facing problems due to activities of unauthorised coolies and vendors have come to notice. During the checks conducted by the Railway administration from time to time, the persons operating unauthorisedly as vendors and coolies are apprehended and action is taken against such persons as per the provisions of Railways Act, 1989. During the years 1997, 1998, 1999 & 2000 (upto November), the number of such persons apprehended on the Zonal Railways is as under:-
Railway 1997 1998 1999 2000 (upto Nov.)
Central 6462 7125 9078 10842 Eastern 1202 1805 2585 1207 Northern 1294 899 1174 1398 North Eastern 176 198 211 258 Northeast Frontier 50 80 50 90 Southern 8620 11136 10578 9373 South Central 4049 4009 6948 8686 South Eastern 1041 1357 1459 1987 Western 5591 6914 6955 6456