Rail Neer Overcharging: Pune Division Fines Vendors Rs 91,000 in Three Months
Reported By Amit Singh
Pune, 27th January 2026: Pune Railway Division has imposed fines amounting to ₹91,000 on vendors for violations related to packaged drinking water sales during a three-month enforcement drive from October to December 2025. The action follows the implementation of revised drinking water rates and intensified checks at railway stations across the division.
According to official enforcement data, the penalties were levied primarily for overcharging on packaged drinking water, including Rail Neer, and for the sale of unauthorized water brands. Most of the violations were detected through complaints registered on the Rail Madad grievance redressal system, coupled with inspections carried out by railway officials.
October 2025 recorded the highest recovery, with ₹50,000 collected in water-related fines alone. In one case, a vendor was fined ₹20,000 for overcharging along with misbehavior, while in separate incidents Rail Neer bottles were sold at ₹20 instead of the prescribed ₹14, resulting in penalties totaling ₹30,000.
In November 2025, fines amounting to ₹35,000 were imposed. These included penalties for selling non-approved water brands such as “Arogyam” and “Elvish” at inflated prices, as well as cases involving disputes with passengers over drinking water rates. Enforcement continued in December 2025 with ₹6,000 recovered, including action against bulk sale of Rail Neer bottles above the maximum retail price.
The inspections also focused on compliance with approved brands, with vendors penalized for selling unauthorized packaged drinking water in place of Rail Neer. Platform No. 1 and station waiting halls accounted for a significant number of cases where penalties were recovered on the spot.
Divisional Commercial Manager Hemant Kumar Behera said, “Railways have clear instructions on the sale of packaged drinking water at prescribed rates, and any deviation is dealt with strictly to protect passenger interest.”
The Pune Railway Division stated that monitoring through passenger complaints and field inspections will continue to ensure adherence to notified drinking water prices and approved brands at stations.
