More than 2,000 trains were cancelled in about a week due to protests against the Agnipath scheme across the country, the government informed the Parliament on Friday.
In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said train services were affected due to agitation and protests against Agnipath scheme at 62 locations.
“A total of 2,132 trains were cancelled between 15.06.2022 to 23.06.2022,” he said.
The minister added that separate data regarding amount of refund granted to passengers due to disruption of rail services on account of public disorder consequent to agitations like those held after launching of Agnipath is not maintained. “However, during the period 14.06.2022 to 30.06.2022, a total refund of approximately ₹102.96 crore was granted on account of cancellation of trains and a loss of ₹259.44 crore due to damage/destruction of railway assets in agitations against Agnipath scheme was incurred.”
In a separate reply, the minister added that on an average, 71 train services were cancelled per day during the last six months as against an average of 98 trains cancelled in the year 2019-20 that was a near normal pre-Covid year.
In a separate reply, Mr. Vaishnaw said, train services are cancelled every year due to both internal and external factors, which include infrastructural/maintenance works, accidents, law & order problems, agitations, bad weather etc.
“On an average, 71 train services were cancelled per day during the last six months. On an average, 98 trains were cancelled in the year 2019-20 that was a near normal pre-Covid year,” he said.
There is no provision for compensation to passengers for cancellation of trains, the minister said, adding that full refund of fare without deducting cancellation/clerkage charge is granted.
