IRCTC: Adopts Policy “If No Bill, Your Food Is Free”

With all the reports of unhygienic practices, overpriced food and unhappy customers circulating, it comes as no surprise that the IRCTC has been attempting to crack down on the problem in order to ensure a better experience for those who travel by the railways.

Overcharging A Major Component In Complaints Made

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has taken a policy of “if no bill, your food is free”. This policy will prevent the train caterers from charging more than the price and will ensure that the passengers ask for bills. According to Indian Express, many of the complaints made are in regard to overcharging by railway caterers.

According to the report, by March 31, all trains where food is served on payment basis should have this policy in place. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has started publicising this message on its ticket-booking website.To ensure that every transaction is fair in terms of prices charged, and a bill issued, even if it is as small an item as a cup of tea, IRCTC has also started deploying inspectors.

“We have readied 120 officials to man the trains and in some time we are going to put in place more people on inspection duty to gradually man every train during food service time. They will ensure proper service and billing,” M P Mall, chairman and managing director, IRCTC, told The Indian Express.

Goyal has given strict instruction of action against erring vendors, including cancelling their licences if prices of food items are not printed on the boxes.