IRCTC to pay around Rs 1.62 lakh to 950 passengers as Tejas Express runs late

The IRCTC will need to pay around Rs 1.62 lakh to as many as 950 passengers for running more than three hours late. The Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express on October 19, Monday has cost IRCTC this whopping amount as compensation to traveling passengers, which the railway subsidiary will pay through its insurance companies. This is the first case in the history of Indian Railways, where the regulatory body is compensating for running late.

Late departure and arrival

The Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express started from Lucknow at around 9.55 am instead of its scheduled departure at 6.10 am and reached New Delhi at around 3.40 pm instead of 12.25 pm. The train departed from New Delhi at around 5.30 pm instead of 3.35 pm and reached Lucknow at around 11.30 pm instead of scheduled at 10.05 pm.

Amount of compensation

There were around 450 passengers from Lucknow to Delhi's journey, who will get Rs 250 as compensation each. While from Delhi to Lucknow there were around 500 passengers who will be paid Rs 100 each as a compensation amount. Also, the passengers can claim their compensation through a link of the insurer given with every ticket of the Tejas Express.

Reason for delay

The delay on October 19 was due to a derailment near Kanpur, otherwise, the train has been maintaining a tight schedule since it began commercial operations from October. However on October 20 again, the Lucknow-Delhi Tejas reached 24 minutes late while the Delhi-Lucknow Tejas arrived right on time.

As per the IRCTC's new policy, each passenger will get an amount of Rs 100 in case the delay is for over an hour and Rs 250 for delay of over two hours. The passenger of Tejas Express also enjoys travel insurance that includes a cover of Rs 1 lakh against household theft and robbery during the travel period.