Railway properties worth Rs 313 crore were damaged in consequential train accidents over the past five years, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed the figure in a written reply, noting that the damages occurred between April 2019 and March 2024 and included losses to rolling stock and tracks.
The statement came in response to questions from five MPs across different political parties regarding the financial impact of train accidents.
Addressing queries about the insurance claims filed by passengers, Vaishnaw shared that 22 claims were registered under the Optional Travel Insurance Scheme during the period from November 1, 2019 to October 31, 2024. Notably, no death claims were reported during this time.
The insurance scheme, launched in 2016 for passengers booking e-tickets, initially required a nominal premium of Rs 0.92 per passenger. However, from December 2016, the premium was waived to encourage cashless transactions, offering free coverage to confirmed and RAC passengers. Claim settlements were handled directly between passengers and insurance agencies.
Vaishnaw also highlighted the significant improvement in railway safety, with consequential train accidents dropping from 135 in 2014-15 to just 40 in 2023-24. He credited the reduction to a series of safety measures implemented over the years.