Starting September 1, customers can demand for bills at the catering stalls situated at railway stations. The Central Railway authorities have asked all static catering stalls to install point of sale (POS) and/or electronic billing machines and issue bills, by August 31.
Not just this, these stalls will also need to paste stickers stating 'Food Free, Without Bill' to inform the customers about it. This would mean that one can demand bills even for simple food like bhel, samosa/vada pav, tea or flavoured drinks etc. served at these stalls at railway stations.
If the stall owner refuses or fails to give bills then the customer would not be charged for the food.
"These stalls cannot refuse bills if demanded by a customer. We know it is difficult to monitor all stalls but then it's a beginning. This way, there will be no question of overcharging," said a CR official.
The CR officials claim that the customers can also complain to the authorities. Already, these food stalls have begun keeping swiping machines for those who use debit/credit cards for transactions. The officials added that they will initiate action against stall owners who do not comply with this rule.
Sources said that at many stations like Kurla, Matunga, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Kalyan etc, stalls have installed electronic billing machines. There is already a provision for having e-wallet modes of payment plus QR codes at these catering stalls.
Passenger associations have welcomed the move and have stated that the electronic billing will reduce corruption. "This is a welcome move as there will be transparency, and it'll reduce corruption drastically. The railways should address complaints at the earliest to make this a success," said Subhash Gupta, president, Rail Yatri Parishad.
THE CHANGE
- These stalls will also need to paste stickers stating ‘Food Free, Without Bill’ to inform the customers about it.
- This would mean that one can demand bills even for simple food like bhel, samosa/vada pav, tea or flavoured drinks etc
- If stall owner refuses or fails to give bills then the customer would not be charged.
