Compensation for train delay

A delay of 38 minutes by a train in reaching Bengaluru has proved costly for the South Western Railway, which has to now pay a compensation of Rs 20,400 to a passenger who had boarded the train at Mandya.

N Channabasappa, an advocate in Mandya, was inconvenienced due to the delay and had filed a complaint with the District Consumer Redressal Forum (DCRF). The complaint stated that Channabasappa had boarded the Chamundi Express train at Mandya on December 9, 2010. As the train reached Bengaluru 38 minutes behind the scheduled time, he suffered inconvenience in his personal work, after which he filed a complaint against the Railways, seeking compensation.

The DCRF, which heard the case, had directed the railway department to pay a compensation of Rs 15,000 to Channabasappa. Questioning this, the Railways had approached the State Consumer Redressal Forum.

After four years of hearing, the state forum has upheld the DCRF’s award and dismissed the appeal filed by the Railways. Finally, it has directed the Railways to pay Rs 20,400, which includes Rs 15,000 as compensation and Rs 5,400 as interest on the compensation amount to Channabasappa.