Railways face backlog of about 500 compensation claim cases

NEW DELHI: Railways face a backlog of about 500 cases of compensation claims related to accidents pending with various claims tribunals across the country.

There are a total 493 compensation claim cases pending as on February 2012, according to the latest data prepared by railways.

The maximum number of cases are pending with Eastern Railway (104), followed by South Eastern Railway (80) and East Coast Railway (74). Konkan Railway has the distinction of zero pending cases.

Northeast Frontier Railway and South East Central Railway have only three and four pending cases respectively awaiting decision.

Railway tribunals had paid Rs 746.60 lakhs as compensation to victims in train accidents in 2012. The compensation amount was Rs 585.79 lakhs in 2011.

"This amount is over and above the ex-gratia paid by the railways given as immediate relief to the victims after the accidents," said a senior Railway Ministry official.