Tatanagar Station: Water vending machine operator fined Rs 5,000 for overcharging

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, April 11: A water vending machine operator at platform number one of Tatanagar station has been fined Rs 5,000 for charging excess money from passengers. The operator, identified as Abhishek Singhal, was caught during a surprise check conducted by the station’s Additional Railway Manager (ARM) on Wednesday.

The surprise check was prompted by a complaint received by the station duty staff regarding the operator charging Rs 2 more for water, including bottles. During the inspection, the ARM discovered that the machine operator was charging passengers Rs 10 instead of the standard Rs 8 for water, including the bottle. As a result, the ARM promptly ordered the Commerce Department to levy a fine of Rs 5,000 on the operator.

Railway authorities have initiated a campaign to curb overcharging at Tatanagar station, which has been ongoing for four days. To address passenger grievances related to overcharging, the Railway Catering and Commerce Department has established two helpline numbers and placed posters near all stalls, restaurants, and vending machines. These measures enable passengers to report instances of overcharging promptly.

Additionally, railway supervisors are conducting surprise inspections at the station to deter overcharging practices. Despite these efforts, instances of overcharging, such as the one detected in the water vending machine, continue to be addressed.