The great train robbery
Travelling by train may not be expensive, but ordering food during the journey, it seems, is. Despite standardisation of food rates by the railway catering agency, attendants on trains overcharge passengers for meals
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, May 06, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009050620090506035305214d16cbf92)
Yogesh Avasthi spoke to several passengers at the Ahmedabad station on Tuesday, and found that almost all of them had been overcharged for meals. Some of the passengers, in fact, were not even given bills for the food they had ordered
What is the rule ?
The Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has standardised rates of meals on all trains to staunch the practice of overcharging. Attendants on trains cannot charge more for a meal than the amount listed in the standardised menu.
What is the ground reality ?
Attendants on some trains charge Rs 37-50 for a standard vegetarian meal costing Rs 32 and Rs 55-60 for a non-vegetarian meal costing Rs 37. They also overcharge passengers for snacks.
what rights do passengers have ?
Passengers can demand the menu standardised by the IRCTC. Train attendants cannot plead ignorance in this regard. If a passenger feels he/she has been overcharged, he/she can ask for the complaint book from attendants In case of a dispute, passengers can use the IRCTC’s toll free number, 1800-111-139, to report the incident.
What do IRCTC officials say ?
“So far, we have received only three complaints (relating to overcharging). The IRCTC has recruited 80 quality control professionals... (they) are deployed in different trains to check and improve the quality of catering services.”—Pravin Parmar, chief regional manager
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, May 06, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009050620090506035305214d16cbf92)
Yogesh Avasthi spoke to several passengers at the Ahmedabad station on Tuesday, and found that almost all of them had been overcharged for meals. Some of the passengers, in fact, were not even given bills for the food they had ordered
What is the rule ?
The Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has standardised rates of meals on all trains to staunch the practice of overcharging. Attendants on trains cannot charge more for a meal than the amount listed in the standardised menu.
What is the ground reality ?
Attendants on some trains charge Rs 37-50 for a standard vegetarian meal costing Rs 32 and Rs 55-60 for a non-vegetarian meal costing Rs 37. They also overcharge passengers for snacks.
what rights do passengers have ?
Passengers can demand the menu standardised by the IRCTC. Train attendants cannot plead ignorance in this regard. If a passenger feels he/she has been overcharged, he/she can ask for the complaint book from attendants In case of a dispute, passengers can use the IRCTC’s toll free number, 1800-111-139, to report the incident.
What do IRCTC officials say ?
“So far, we have received only three complaints (relating to overcharging). The IRCTC has recruited 80 quality control professionals... (they) are deployed in different trains to check and improve the quality of catering services.”—Pravin Parmar, chief regional manager
