Failed to secure confirmed reservation in train? Now you can travel in pantry car!

Mangalore Today News Network

Lucknow, Nov 24, 2015: Despite several corrective steps taken by the Indian Railways to make rail tickets available to passengers through various mediums, the sale and purchase of rail tickets through back door still continues unabated.

According to reports, a recent raid by the railway authorities on the pantry car of the train 12557 Saptkranti Express revealed how passengers who failed to secure confirmed reservation were being heavily charged to let them travel in the staff-cabin, kitchen and store of the pantry car.

The raid was conducted by the senior officers of the commercial wing of northern railways, Lucknow division following a tip-off on Monday.

The railway staff, which raided the pantry car of the train, caught several passengers travelling illegally in its pantry car.

After investigation, it came to fore that the pantry car manager of the train had reportedly charged Rs 1,000 from passengers to allow them to travel in the staff-cabin, kitchen and store of the pantry car.

’The Times Of India’ quoted Amitabh Kumar, Divisional Commercial Manager, Lucknow, Northern Railway, as saying, “At least 15 passengers were caught in the raid.’’

The report against the pantry car manager has been sent to the headquarters," said senior divisional commercial manager, NR, Lucknow, Ajit Kumar Sinha.

During investigation, the passengers told that were asked to pay Rs 1,000 each for entering inside the pantry car. Railway officials also recovered Rs 37,000 as fine from the passengers and one of them was also issued a challan as he did not pay the fine.

Since contracts to pantry car managers and owners are awarded by the zonal railway headquarters, divisional railways can only send the report to the headquarters and not take action against the pantry car managers for any violation.

 

Courtesy: Zeenews