Cancellation of 2,314 trains and tickets during the Jat quota agitation cost the Indian Railways a huge loss, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The total loss suffered by Railways on account of damage to property and cancellation of tickets during the recent Jat agitation is about Rs 55.92 crore.Suresh Prabhu, Railways Minister
Replying to questions, the Minister said during the period of active agitation from February 12-24, a total of 2,134 trains (1,033 Mail/Express and 1,101 passenger trains) were fully cancelled and 259 Mail/ Express trains were diverted.In addition to this, 430 trains (229 Mail/ Express and 201 passenger trains) were partially cancelled.
Prabhu said policing on Railways and crime prevention was a state subject and crime prevention. Registration of cases, their investigation in Railway premises as well as on running trains are the statutory responsibility of the state police which they discharge through Government Railway Police of the state concerned.
However, the Railway Protection Force supplements the efforts of GRP by deploying their staff to escort important trains in affected areas and for access control duties at important and sensitive railway stations.
There was no negligence on the part of Railway Protection Force, he said, adding there is no mechanism in Railways to recover from damage from incidents of riots, arson and looting, or damage to public property.
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