Despite awareness and action against overpricing by vendors in city railway stations, the practice continues, especially if the buyer is a minor.
Recently at Chennai Central, a young boy approached a salesman at one of the kiosks on the platform, asking for two bottles of Railneer. The vendor took Rs. 20 from the boy and gave him just one bottle of water. When the unsuspecting boy returned with just one bottle, his relatives questioned the vendor, who promptly returned Rs. 5 as balance, apologising for the mistake.
Overpricing also continues to be a major problem in stations in the extended areas of the city where kiosks selling food items and water are located.
On the bright side, passengers say that interacting with officials and sharing their grievances on social media, especially Twitter, results in prompt action by senior officials, who instruct ground staff to act on the complaints.
A Southern Railway staff member who manages an official Twitter account says vendors are increasingly aware that if they indulge in charging passengers more than the MRP, the latter would lose no time in complaining online. He says they have also been reinforcing the message that vendors are not to charge more than the MRP.
Enforcing rules
Young two-wheeler riders speeding by without wearing helmets continues to be a common sight despite strict traffic regulations and drives by the police to stop the practice.
Increasingly, many parents are also getting into the act. “I do not give the motorcycle keys to my daughter unless she wears her helmet,” says R. Rajat, a real estate developer.
Parents note that their children taking helmets along does not always mean compliance with the rule. “They often lock it up by the seat and ride without it. They say it is suffocating,” said S Ambika, a domestic worker.
“We have put up neon signboards, placards and we also fine violators. There’s only so much we can do. Motorists must be careful. It is a question of their lives after all,” said a traffic policeman on General Patters Road.
(Reporting by K. Manikandan and Aditi. R)
