Indian Railway Responds After Passenger Complains About Being Overcharged ₹5 For A Water Bottle

The recent incident proved that the Indian Railways takes their passenger grievances seriously and even takes prompt action to address them. Most passengers who are disappointed by their service share their grievances and complaints on the social media platform, X. In an incident, a vendor charged Rs 20 for a bottle of Rail Neer, which is priced at Rs 15. The catering service was fined Rs 1 lakh for overcharging the passengers.

A Rail Passenger recorded a video of the vendor charging extra for bottled water that went viral

A passenger in the 3rd AC economy class traveling on Pooja SF Express recorded a video of the vendor charging extra for bottled water. In the 1 minute and 47 seconds video clip, when the passenger questioned the vendor, he nonchalantly gave a reason for the overcharge, stating he needed to earn a living. After purchasing the bottle, the passenger instantly filed a complaint using the railway helpline number 139.

Indian Railways took prompt action to enforce fair pricing policies

Indian Railways addressed the complaint and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the catering service for overcharging passengers on board the Pooja SF Express. The penalty was followed by a video that had a letter stating the railways’ zero-tolerance stance on overcharging and unethical practices. This swift action serves as a warning and reminder to all vendors to adhere to pricing rules strictly.

Here is the viral video

139 पर आई ओवरचार्जिंग की शिकायत, रेलवे ने लिया फटाफट एक्शन, कैटरिंग कंपनी पर लगा एक लाख का जुर्माना।

यात्रियों को ओवर चार्जिंग की राशि की गई रिटर्न! pic.twitter.com/8ZaomlEWml

— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 23, 2024

A representative from the catering service soon refunded the overcharged Rs 5 to the passenger. The passenger advised the vendor to return the extra amount charged to other passengers in the coach as well.

Railway Seva always encourages passengers to report their issues on their helpline desks

A passenger traveling through Indian Railways can file a complaint with Indian Railway through these multiple platforms.

Helpline Number – Dial 139 to report complaints.
Online Portal – Submit the necessary details via the Indian Railways website.
RailMadad – You can use the grievance form to file and track complaints.
SMS – Send a complaint to 91-9717680982.
Security Issues – For security-related matters call 182.

Indian Railways’ prompt action in this case emphasizes its commitment to ensuring passenger satisfaction and maintaining fair and ethical service standards.

Have you ever been overcharged by vendors on Railways? Let us know in the comments.