Mumbai: The Government Railway Police (GRP) Mumbai will soon be sending a proposal to the railway department suggesting that suburban travel and property should be insured. The move is aimed to bring down the cases of commuters putting up a fight with thieves in railways thereby risking their lives. If approved, 80,000,00 suburban railway commuters would benefit from this move.
A government railway police officer said, "In case of an accident the victim or his family can approach the Railway Claims Tribunal to seek compensation. In case of a natural disaster, the DRM and GM are empowered to release some ex-gratia to the victim, but not in a case of crime. We were considering the possibility that property and life during suburban travel should be insured. So in case if a thief steals a mobile phone, the victim won't risk his life battling or chasing the thief knowing that his mobile is insured.”
"In case of purchase of online tickets of long-distance trains, insurance cover is provided in the fare. Every year, in Mumbai at least 3,000 people die either due to collision with a train or by falling from a running suburban train. So if a person dies, he or she still has a family to look after. We have suggested that all suburban travellers should be insured for life and for property as well (mainly for mobile phones and laptops). Railways can pay the insurance premium and we as a policing agency will provide a report based on our investigations into a mishap case and on the basis of our report, family of the victim and get insurance claim," said GRP Mumbai Commissioner, Quaiser Khalid.
"Though we have not suggested any amount of insurance for an individual, in case of an accident the insurance amount is of Rs 10 lakh and above. At least 80,000,00 people travel a day in suburban trains. So higher the volume, lower the premium principle will apply in this case," said a police officer on the condition of anonymity.
