Lok Sabha Question No. 146 (STARRED), answered on 2016-07-27
Subject: Malpractices in Parcel Booking
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.146 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2016

## MALPRACTICES IN PARCEL BOOKING

- *146.    SHRI J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  incidents  of  malpractices/  irregularities/ corruption in parcel booking at railway stations have come to the notice of the Railways and if so, the  details  of  such  cases  reported  during  the last three years, zone and station-wise along with loss of revenue;
- (b) the action taken by the Railways against the officials found guilty in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  Railways  conducts  periodical  surprise  checks  of  the parcel booking offices/ counters at the railway stations;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  and  outcome  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken/ proposed to be taken by the Railways to streamline the functioning of parcel booking service?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 146 BY SHRI J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.07.2016 REGARDING MALPRACTICES IN PARCEL BOOKING

- (a) &  (b)  The  zone-wise  details  of  the  incidents  of  malpractices/ irregularities/  corruption  in  parcel  booking  at  railway  station, during last three years, are  as under -
- (c) Regular/ periodical inspections are being carried out by Commercial and Traffic Accounts Departments of the zonal railways.    In  addition  to  this,  surprise  checks/  raids  are  being conducted frequently by the Vigilance department of zonal railways.

| Railway                    |   No of Cases of malpractice/ irregularities/ corruption | Action taken against the staff                                     |
|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Eastern Railway            |                                                      157 | Defaulter staff have been taken under Disciplinary & Appeal Rules. |
| East Central Railway       |                                                        2 | Defaulter staff have been taken under Disciplinary & Appeal Rules. |
| East Coast Railway         |                                                       12 | Defaulter staff have been taken under Disciplinary & Appeal Rules. |
| Northern Railway           |                                                      326 | Defaulter staff have been taken under Disciplinary & Appeal Rules. |
| Southern Railway           |                                                      310 | Defaulter staff have been taken under Disciplinary & Appeal Rules. |
| South Central Railway      |                                                       55 | Defaulter staff have been taken under Disciplinary & Appeal Rules. |
| South East Central Railway |                                                       30 | Defaulter staff have been taken under Disciplinary & Appeal Rules. |
| Western Railway            |                                                       40 | Defaulter staff have been taken under Disciplinary & Appeal Rules. |
| Total                      |                                                      932 |                                                                    |

- (d) During last three years, 10585 checks have been conducted in parcel offices  over  all  the  zones.    These  include  4341  regular/  periodical inspections carried out by officials of Commercial and Traffic Accounts  Departments  of  the  zonal  railways  and  6244  surprise checks/ preventive checks by the Vigilance department.

As a result of these checks, 71 major penalty & 1373 minor penalty crore action has  been  taken. Further an amount  of  Rs. 6.13 (approximate) has been recovered as under charge.

- (e) To streamline the function of Parcel traffic, the following steps have been taken by the Railways  -
- (i) Leasing of parcel space of Brakevans (SLR) and Parcel Vans (VP) & Leasing of Parcel Cargo Express trains Schemes  for  leasing  of  parcel  space  of  Brakevans  (SLR)  and Parcel Vans (VP) & entire capacity of Parcel Cargo Express trains is  in  existence,  wherein  all  the  activities  related  to  booking  of parcels i.e. loading, unloading, transportation of parcel traffic in

the leased parcel space is done by the leaseholders.

- (ii)
- Budget announcement 2016-17 During the Budget Speech 2016-17, it was announced to revamp parcel  business.    Accordingly,  the  parcel  leasing  schemes  i.e. 'Comprehensive Parcel Leasing Policy (CPLP)' as well as 'Parcel Cargo  Express  Train  (PCET)'  have  been  liberalized  with  effect from  15.06.2016.    It  will  proliferate  leasing  and  reduce  the

interface of staff.

## (iii) Introduction of Parcel Management system (PMS) -

With a view to provide system improvement through transparent been introduced.    In  1 st   phase,  PMS  has  been  implemented  over  77 stations.  Under  2 nd   phase,  installation  of  PMS  on  143  railway mechanism, Parcel Management System (PMS) has stations is in process.

## (iv) E-Tendering of Parcel Spaces -

Parcel  leasing  tenders  have  been  invited/  opened  first  time through e-tendering system by Delhi Division of Northern Railway as a pilot project.  Based on the experience, all the other zones will be advised to adopt similar process of tendering on pan-India basis. This will bring transparency in tendering process.

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