Railways crack down on unauthorized vendors in special drive, violators to face action
HARISH MONGA
Ferozepur, September 15, 2024: In a concerted effort to curb unauthorized vending on trains, the Indian Railways has launched a special drive under the directives of the Railway Board and headquarters. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Paramdeep Singh Saini, spearheaded inspections on September 15, 2024, targeting train numbers 18237 (Korba-Amritsar Chhattisgarh Express) and 14505 (Amritsar-Nangal Dam).
Accompanied by Commercial Inspector Nitesh from Jalandhar City and ticket-checking staff, Saini conducted thorough inspections to clamp down on unauthorized vending. During the inspection of train number 18237, two unauthorized vendors were apprehended and handed over to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) under Section 144 of the Railway Act for further punitive action.
Additionally, Saini reviewed the cleanliness of pantry cars and coaches as part of the ongoing “Swachhata Hi Seva” campaign. In train number 18237, three vendors were found without valid medical certificates and were subjected to necessary actions as per existing regulations.
Under Section 144 of the Railway Act, unauthorized vendors selling goods on trains or railway premises face a fine of ₹2000 or imprisonment for up to one year or both. Saini urged passengers to refrain from purchasing anything from unauthorized vendors during their train journeys.
As part of a special ticket-checking campaign, Saini, along with the ticket-checking staff, also conducted intensive ticket inspections on both trains. A total of 94 passengers travelling without tickets or with irregular tickets were fined approximately ₹54,000.
This drive underscores Indian Railways’ commitment to ensuring passenger safety and maintaining high standards of service.