Lok Sabha Question No. 442 (STARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Railway Stations run by Local People
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: HEMAMALINI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.442 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## RAILWAY STATIONS RUN BY LOCAL PEOPLE

- *442.  SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether it is true that many railway stations in the country are being run  by  local  people  instead  of  railway  employees  and  if  so,  the details thereof along with the number of such stations;
- (b)  whether it is beneficial for the Government to let local people run the stations and if so, the details of such benefits and if not, the reasons for not running the stations by the Railways;
- (c)  whether there is any permanent policy in this regard and if so, the details thereof;  and
- (d)   if  not,  whether  the  Government intends to formulate such a policy and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS (SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 442 BY SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2017 REGARDING RAILWAY STATIONS RUN BY LOCAL PEOPLE

(a):   At  small way side stations categorized as F category stations and called as Halt stations, selling of tickets is normally carried out by halt agents appointed by Railways. However, even at halt stations this work is  carried  out  through  railway  staff  (commercial  clerk/guard)  when  the halt contractor leaves the halt or contract is terminated before completion of agreement period or where no suitable contractor could be appointed. As per the extant policy guidelines, the halt agent should be a permanent resident of the place where the halt station is opened.

The zone-wise details of halt stations over Indian Railways are as under:

| Zonal Railway              |   Halt Stations |
|----------------------------|-----------------|
| Central Railway            |              62 |
| Eastern Railway            |             156 |
| East Central Railway       |             289 |
| East Coast Railway         |              56 |
| Northern Railway           |             246 |
| North Central Railway      |              88 |
| North Eastern Railway      |             143 |
| Northeast Frontier Railway |             113 |
| North Western Railway      |             135 |
| Southern Railway           |             153 |
| South Central Railway      |             156 |
| South Eastern Railway      |             104 |
| South East Central Railway |             116 |
| South Western Railway      |              95 |
| Western Railway            |             221 |
| West Central Railway       |              37 |
| Total                      |            2170 |

At  such  stations  where there are only one or two stopping trains during  the  day,  Ministry  of  Railways  is  considering  utilizing  the  space capacity for organizing local functions and for skill development activities involving local people. (b):     In view of meagre earnings and low volume of passenger traffic at such stations, posting of railway staff for sale of tickets and creating full fledged railway infrastructure like station buildings/ staff quarters etc. at such stations would be unremunerative. Therefore, to minimise cost of operating such halt stations, Railways appoint contractual agents who are paid commission based on the ticket sales turnover at the station. (c): Yes, Madam.  Policy  guidelines exist for appointment  of  halt contractors.  As  per  extant  guidelines,  the  halt  contractor  should  be  a permanent resident of the place where the halt station is situated.  The limited  purpose  of  selling  tickets  is  fulfilled  by  appointing  a  local resident as halt agent by being available at the station during the train timings. Usually only a few pairs of trains are provided stoppage at halt stations throughout the day. (d):     Does not arise.

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