HYDERABAD: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in its recent report, has criticised the railways for failing to run superfast trains as per their schedules. It says that some superfast trains have been unable to attain an average speed of 55 kmph. It adds that passengers are being charged for superfast services, but were not receiving its benefits.
“Rules for the refund of superfast surcharge to passengers should be framed by the Railway Board for cases where the railways fail to provide superfast services. Though some trains are not running at their designated speeds, passengers are paying superfast charges,” the report reads.
The CAG has observed that superfast charges amounting to Rs 11.17 crore have been collected from passengers in the period from 2013-14 to 2015-16 by the South Central and North Central Railways, but 21 superfast trains in these zones have been unable to attain average speeds of 55 kmph. Apart from the CAG’s report, statistics available on the website of the Indian Railways indicate that in the months of July, August and September this year, a total of about 890 superfast trains ran late.
About 326 superfast trains ran between 16 to 30 minutes late in July, 287 in August, and 267 in September. 196 superfast trains ran between 31 to 60 minutes late in July, 186 in August, and 240 in September. 129 superfast trains ran between one to three hours late in July, 145 in August and 183 in September. 31 superfast trains ran over three hours late in July, and 37 in August.
Though 73 per cent of the trains in the country ran on time last year, the South Central Railway managed to operate 90 percent of its trains punctually. Officials from the South Central Railway say that superfast trains were delayed because of ongoing track repair works. Meanwhile, the clearing of bottlenecks to improve speed and the repair of old tracks have ensured that most trains reach their destinations on time. Rs 30 per head for Sleeper Class passengers, '45 for Second and Third A/C passengers, and Rs 75 for First A/C passengers are collected as superfast surcharges. The CAG suggests that the Railway Board should refund this amount to passengers if a train is delayed.
The Indian Railways recently announced 48 new superfast trains, among which the Rayalaseema Express of the South Central Railway was one. The SCR plans to upgrade three more express trains to superfast trains soon.
