Railway passengers can’t stomach food price increase

Railway commuter Narendra Singh was shocked when a food vendor at CST station demanded Rs 16 for a cup of tomato soup instead of the usual Rs 10.

He started arguing only to be cut short when the stall owner showed him a revised price list of food items effective from October 10.

This is not an isolated incident of dispute over prices of food items at a local station. The prices have been hiked at railway stations all over India — this is the second hike this year. However, long-distance passengers and suburban commuters have been inconvenienced as the revised rates are not listed on stalls or pantry cars in trains.

"This has been done discreetly without informing passengers. In most stalls, there is no revised list on display boards. Now, the value added tax (VAT) tariff is separated from the original rates, while earlier this was included in original rates. In Maharashtra, VAT is charged at the rate of 5 per cent on food items,'' said an official Central Railway.

The only item whose price hasn't increased is tea but vendors have found a way around. They charge double the rate by offering special tea to passengers. "Instead of Rs 5 for a cup of tea, Rs 10 is being charged in trains and even at food stalls," said Anil Kumar, a passenger, who experienced this in Avantika Express, which goes to Indore from Mumbai.

The Railways last increased the rates less than a year ago on February 21, 2012. After eight months, the Central Railway has increased them again. According to Sharat V Ingale,

Chief Commercial Manager, Central Railway, "This is not our decision; it is taken in a committee meeting at the Railway board level. The price hike is done only in a-la-carte items, not in meals or tea etc."

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