Pune Railway Station Vendor Fined Rs 20,000 and Stall Sealed for Overcharging on Water Bottle
Reported By Amit Singh
Pune, 28th October 2025: A water bottle stall on Platform No. 2 of Pune Railway Station was sealed and fined ₹20,000 after a passenger complained of overcharging. The passenger alleged that the vendor sold a one-litre water bottle for ₹20 instead of the official price and justified the overcharge by claiming the money was used to pay “hafta” to railway officers.
Following the complaint, railway officials conducted an on-spot investigation. “With immediate effect, we sealed the stall temporarily after investigation and imposed a fine of ₹20,000,” said DCM & PRO Hemant Kumar Behera.
“It is illegal to overcharge for bottled water at railway stations, as vendors are required to sell it at or below the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), which includes all taxes. Indian Railways has a zero-tolerance policy and imposes severe penalties,” Behera added.
Official Water Bottle Prices at Railway Stations
In September 2025, Indian Railways revised the prices of Rail Neer and other approved packaged drinking water brands following a GST rate cut. The updated rates are:
1-litre bottle: ₹14 (reduced from ₹15)
500 ml bottle: ₹9 (reduced from ₹10)
These prices are applicable across all IRCTC stalls and authorized vendors on trains and station premises.
Steps for Passengers to Report Overcharging
Passengers who face overcharging can take the following steps:
Request a bill: Always ask for a printed receipt from the vendor.
Refuse to pay extra: Customers are entitled to pay only the printed MRP.
Report the incident:
RailMadad: railmadad.indianrailways.gov.in
Helpline 139: Call the integrated railway helpline.
Social media: Tag @RailwaySeva on X (Twitter) with complaint details.
Station Complaint Book: Available at the Station Master’s office.
For stronger evidence, passengers are advised to record the vendor’s name, code, platform number, date and time of the incident, and a photo of the bottle showing the MRP.
