Surat: The railway administration has taken action against a catering vendor at Surat Railway Station after a passenger complained of being overcharged for a bottle of Railneer water. Following the complaint, Western Railway’s Mumbai Central Division ordered an inquiry, and the catering stall on Platform No. 3 has been temporarily closed pending further investigation.

According to railway officials, the passenger had purchased a bottle of Railneer from the stall and was allegedly charged ₹20 despite the maximum retail price (MRP) being ₹14. When the passenger objected to the overcharging, the vendor reportedly behaved rudely and challenged him to lodge a complaint.

The passenger subsequently raised the issue on social media, prompting the railway administration to take cognisance of the matter. Mumbai Central Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Pankaj Singh directed officials to conduct an immediate inquiry and initiate appropriate action.

Acting on the DRM’s instructions, Surat Railway Station authorities shut down the catering stall and issued a notice seeking an explanation from the vendor.

Railway sources said a detailed report on the incident will be submitted to the Mumbai Division. If the allegations of overcharging are found to be true, the vendor could face strict punitive action, including action against the stall’s licence.

The action has reportedly triggered concern among other catering operators at the station. Railway officials said the move underscores the administration’s zero-tolerance approach towards complaints of overcharging passengers and violations of catering rules. DeshGujarat