Lok Sabha Question No. 1795 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Stations run by Locals
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: M. Selvaraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1795 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## STATIONS RUN BY LOCALS

1795. SHRI M. SELVARAJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether 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 if  not, whether the government intends to formulate such a policy
- (d) and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (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 UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1795  BY  SHRI  M.  SELVARAJ  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.12.2021 REGARDING STATIONS RUN BY LOCALS

(a): At small way side stations categorized as Halt Grade (HG) 1, 2 and  3  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  is  as under:

| Zonal Railway              |   Halt Stations |
|----------------------------|-----------------|
| Central Railway            |              94 |
| Eastern Railway            |             156 |
| East central Railway       |             273 |
| East coast Railway         |              59 |
| Northern Railway           |             257 |
| North Central Railway      |              97 |
| North Eastern Railway      |             160 |
| Northeast Frontier Railway |             105 |
| North Western Railway      |             140 |
| Southern Railway           |             175 |
| South Central Railway      |             122 |
| South Eastern Railway      |             107 |
| South East Central Railway |              94 |
| South Western Railway      |             112 |
| Western Railway            |             127 |
| West Central Railway       |              22 |
| Total                      |            2100 |

Contd….2/-

(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,  Sir.  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  who  is  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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