e-Menu & Tariff to Railway Passengers

e-Menu & Tariff  to Railway Passengers

PMOPG/E/2016/0309105

Railways is not Providing Menu & Tariff of Pantry Car supplying items to Customers who are also Citizens (kings in Democracy).

This lack of Information is leading to

1. High Price Charging by Pantry car Staff with or Without collusion with Pantry car Manager.

          E.g. I have complained about over charging in Ratnachal Super Fast Train to 1800111321 from my mobile 9491783736, The manager came to me and asked to identify the supplying boys. Then he fired them.  He gave me his number to me and Requested to inform him first before calling 1800111321. Next time When I informed him, he came running and Returned extra money to all the passengers in my Coach.

          In this case, it is difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt, the manager is in collusion charging high prices. Though under Vicarious liability Manager is liable, consequently Railways.

2. Customers/Citizens are at the mercy of Managers.

3. Lack of Accountability on part of Pantry car staff/manager.

What is present in Commercial Circular No 78 of 2012

Standard tea price is Rs.5...I have not seen anyone charging Rs.5

Tea (with Tea Bags)...Rs.7; Here also they charge rs.10, if someone ask they keep two biscuits in their hand

Water Bottle and Other packed goods should be sold at MRP; This is followed more in its breach.

Point 2(ii) in the circular  says; menu must be displayed (properly fixed at prominent location visible to Passengers) in EACH COACH.

With Due Respect, I have been traveling in Trains, but I have NEVER seen This.

This is a Gross violation of Duty by Pantry Car Management and Enforcing Railway Authorities.

Point 3:  Zonal Railways should display and Notify the revised Tariffs at Station.

This is a Gross violation of Duty by Railway Authorities.

Point 5: Talks about Electronic/Printed Receipt to passengers of Mail/Express and Service Tax must be passed on to Central Govt.

With Due Respect, I have been travelling in Trains in TamilNadu Express, Kerala Express and many more, but I have NEVER seen This.

This is a Gross violation of Duty by Pantry Car Management and Enforcing Railway Authorities. This is also leading to loss of Tax Revenue.

I was charged Rs 120 many times for my meal during my BZA-NDLS Journey, but I did not find Rs.120 for any Item in the Railway Board's lr.No:2011/TG.III/631/1 dt.12.9.2012

So what can be done?

1. Provide e-menu cards in IRCTC website, or any other online location, where passengers can see the price list of their respective trains.

2. Provide a mechanism to Pre-paid food order with the pantry car, so that the passengers can book his tea-breakfast-lunch-snacks-dinner etc. This will improve Transparency, Service Tax Collection, and accountability

3. Widely Display the Price list to be followed in Static/mobile through various means.

4. 1800111321 Number and http://www.coms.indianrailways.gov.in/criscm/common/complaint_registration.seam  must be widely publicized. The toll-free number must be ramped up to handle wide number of complaints.

5. There needs to be incentive mechanism such are returning train-fare to successful complaint etc, the same can be charged from Pantry car or Static vendor. 

6. The complaint mechanism should also include to uploading Audio-Video clips

Why It is important to Democratic Government?

a. Passengers are Clients on one hand and Citizens (Kings) on the Other Hand who use their vote to elect successive governments, So pleasing them is legal duty and self interest.

b. 20 Million Clients/Citizens/Voters a Day will feel the Government has been exceptional in reducing Corruption. And they keep taking this throughout their journey.

c. This will have spillover effect into other departments

d. This will change the ideology of people and they would demand similar mechanisms in other services

Challenges?

·        Pressure Groups Lobbying

·        Low man power to enforce

·        Technical low of passengers. But the vocal passengers who use Social media will create the positive wave of our efforts.

·        Corruption in Vigilance Staff.

This Suggestion was transferred to South Central Railway, They have given Reply, which is not acceptable, because it violates RTI Act, 2005 to the core

They Also called me and gave very usual and funny reasons for non-implementing the existing provisions.