Crackdown on unauthorized packaged water sales in trains: Surprise inspection conducted on Shaan-e-Punjab Express
Ferozepur, February 25, 2025: The Railway Board has launched a month-long intensive inspection drive to curb the sale of unauthorized packaged drinking water on trains. As part of this initiative, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) Paramdeep Singh Saini conducted a surprise inspection on train number 12497 (Shaan-e-Punjab Express) to check whether only "Rail Neer" water was being sold.
During the inspection, the Senior DCM examined both reserved and unreserved coaches and found that several passengers had purchased unapproved water bottles from vendors after the train's departure. Upon interacting with passengers, 7-8 travelers confirmed that pantry car vendors had sold them non-approved brands of bottled water. Following this, the IRCTC was informed for departmental action against the pantry car licensee under IRCTC regulations.
Accompanying the Senior DCM were Commercial Inspector (Amritsar) Balwinder Singh, GRP personnel, and five ticket-checking staff. Three unauthorized vendors were caught selling items illegally on the train. They were handed over to the RPF under Section 144 of the Railway Act, which prescribes a penalty of ₹2,000 or imprisonment of up to one year, or both, for unauthorized vending on trains. Passengers were urged not to purchase anything from unauthorized sellers.
Additionally, a special ticket-checking drive was conducted in both reserved and unreserved coaches. A total of 88 passengers were caught traveling without a valid ticket or with irregular tickets, leading to fines amounting to over ₹55,000.