As we all know the country’s inflation rate is rising rapidly, and prices for all commodities—including food items, electronics, FMCGs, etc.—are skyrocketing, but there are some things that can be still available at low prices. One of them, though, is still accessible to Indians for a little less money, and for the vast majority of us, it essentially constitutes a requirement.
It is none other than every household’s beloved tea, which we can purchase from roadside tea vendors for Rs. 10 or a bit more, depending on the additions made to it.
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The majority of Indians consider tea to be essential, and they can consume it at any time because it not only restores our drained power but also encourages family gatherings. Even when we’re travelling, we want to have tea periodically so that our minds and senses can function properly, but one traveller found that drinking tea aboard a train was too expensive.
Passenger pays Rs 70 for a cup of tea
A Bhopal Shatabdi Express passenger who was heading from Bhopal to Delhi bought a cup of tea aboard the train for Rs. 20. The Indian Railways added a service fee of Rs. 50 to the bill, thus the customer was forced to pay Rs. 70 for a single cup of tea.
The tea bill that was published on social media as evidence of the railway service has since gone viral and netizens are now in disbelief when the netizen uploaded a post on his Twitter account that had two tax receipts for one tea each. He wrote,
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“GST of Rs 50 on tea worth Rs 20. Altogether, a tea is worth Rs 70. Isn’t it an amazing loot?”
As soon as the passenger posted a picture of the bill on social media, people began criticizing Indian Railways for plundering the public in this way. The objections, however, were ignored. Following that, other people on social media corrected him and stated that just the service charge had been imposed, not GST. Many people also complained that the service fee of Rs 50 for a cup of tea was outrageous.
Reaction on social media
₹20 का चाई पर ₹50 का GST. कुल मिलाकर ₹70 का एक चाई,
हैं ना कमाल का लूट
Series of such complaints to @IRCTCofficial fall on deaf ears at @RailMinIndia
and the private players have a loot in “connivance” with the 🤫 pic.twitter.com/Ayir5vGITL— Deepak Kumar Jha (@journalistjha) June 30, 2022
Tax of 20 rupees Tea is 50.
Tax >>>>> Tea .
A great thanks to Railway Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw .
Mera desh badal raha hei. pic.twitter.com/Tlq0FyC3zz
— Binay Jena (@binayjenaINC) July 1, 2022
20 रुपए की चाय पर 50 रुपए का सर्विस टैक्स!
मोदी का इंडिया। लुटेरों का इंडिया!! pic.twitter.com/A5HwMWVnEF
— Sudhakar Shahi (@SudhakarShahi13) June 30, 2022
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Food can be pre-ordered
For a cup of tea???? that has to be pre ordered .. Loot ki koi limit hain ya nahi,
Tommorow @RailMinIndia will say same for a bottle of water or may be No of times you use in-train toilet https://t.co/PtX42aAaYi— Dibyendu Datta (@dibyendudatta) July 1, 2022
Why Indian Railway charged Rs 50 as service charge on Rs 20 tea?
IRCTC, which offers food services on the railroads, has received several complaints of this nature on a regular basis. Meanwhile, the Indian Railways made its position on this issue clear by saying that, in accordance with the directive published in 2018, a passenger must pay Rs. 50 additional as a service charge if they purchase coffee, tea, or food during their voyage.
For those who are unaware, food service used to be required on trains like the Rajdhani Express or the Shatabdi, but it was subsequently made optional. That is, a passenger has the option to decline taking food and drinks on certain trains if they want to. They would only be required to pay for the ticket in this scenario; the meal service would be free.
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