IRCTC Cracks Down on Train Vendor Overcharging with New System

Mumbai: Overcharging by onboard vendors has long been a persistent problem for train passengers. To curb this issue and ensure transparency, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has introduced a new initiative across select express trains.

Under this new system, vendors will be provided with a distinct uniform displaying a helpline number. Each vendor will also carry a special QR-coded card, which passengers can scan to verify prices and register complaints easily. The initiative has been launched in the Western Zone on premium trains including Shatabdi, Tejas, Rajdhani, and Vande Bharat High-Speed trains.

Helpline and Complaint Redressal
The helpline number printed on the new uniform will allow passengers to immediately report overcharging or any other grievance. This step is expected to accelerate complaint registration and ensure swift action. Frequent complaints from passengers about arbitrary pricing by vendors have prompted this move, with several viral videos on social media highlighting the issue.

QR Code Transparency
The QR-coded card carried by vendors will serve a dual purpose. Scanning one side will display fixed prices of all food and beverage items sold by the vendor, reducing the chances of overcharging. The other side will facilitate digital payments, minimizing errors in financial transactions and addressing issues such as incorrect change.

Pilot Program on Premium Trains
The system has been rolled out initially on the Western Zone’s Shatabdi, Tejas, Rajdhani, and Vande Bharat trains, with plans to expand to other routes gradually. IRCTC hopes that this measure will improve catering services, ensure transparency, and reduce complaints, which are often most frequent on trains traveling to North India.

According to GGM Gaurav Jha of IRCTC Western Zone, approximately 100 complaints related to catering and overcharging are received daily. With assistance from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), action is taken against offenders, and in several cases, vendors have been suspended. The new system is expected to significantly reduce such grievances.