Overcharging has been continuing unabated at the ticket counters of Ludhiana railway station. When the Hindustan Times team visited the spot at around 1.20 pm on Wednesday, a railway employee at the unreserved booking counter was found fleecing a migrant labourer by charging Rs 15 extra for his ticket.
Moreover, some railway employees were also seen charging different rates from passengers travelling by the same train by the same tier ticket. Ashok Singh, who was travelling from Ludhiana to Saharsa Junction with two family members, got three general compartment tickets for Rs 960 (Rs 320 per adult).
However, Shyam Kumar, a 19-year-old who was travelling by the same train and same tier ticket, was charged Rs 350 even though it was mentioned on the ticket that the cost of a general category seat is Rs 335.
When Kumar said went to the counter to enquire about the reason for the difference, he was told that he had been charged for a Superfast train while Singh was charged for Mail/Express train.
Another passenger, Santosh, 20, who brought five tickets—two for Saharsa and three for Katihar— was given five separate tickets. Though each ticket was worth Rs 335 which makes the total Rs 1,675 but he was charged Rs 1,750. Santosh was essentially charged Rs 75 (Rs 15 extra per ticket). When informed, divisional commercial manager (DCM) Rajneesh Srivastava said that he will get an inspection done.
No action in the past too
On April 19 this year, HT had reported that 13 railway employees were overcharging and fleecing passengers at the ticket counter. The DCM had then ordered an inspection, however, there has still been no action in the case. When asked the DCM said that officials are looking into the matter.
