NEW DELHI: After tickets, railway has now decided to offer discount to passengers buying food using credit and debit cards from pantry cars in trains and authorized stalls at platforms.
According to railway board, the issue of digital and cashless transaction and payment of catering related services on Indian Railways through digital means has been examined and it has been decided that an instant discount of 5 percent for payment of paid catering services shall be granted.
After the demonetization in November 2016, the government has been focusing on encouraging people to move towards digital mode of payments. Railways has also waived off service charge on booking of e-tickets through website and that is expected to cause a revenue loss of over Rs 500 crore annually.
The discount will be provided to only those passengers adopting digital means of transaction on mail and express trains and other static units where catering services are provided on option and payment basis only.
The order issued by railways said that this system shall be put in place initially upto June 30, 2017 so as to ensure that payment through digital means is widely accepted and it becomes an established norm for payment of catering related services on railways.
The vendors have been directed that a computerized bill shall necessarily be generated in duplicate clearly indicating the total chargeable amount and also mentioning the offered discount. The catering service provider can present a copy of the bill on monthly basis before the railway administration for reimbursement.
To ensure that there are no discrepancies, the concerned commercial inspector shall be responsible for verification and certification of bills and authentication of the consolidated amount of discount on monthly basis.
“On receipt of the certified and authenticated copy of statement showing details of total amount will be processes by railways administration for reimbursement to the concerned service provider by railways,” said the order issued by Tourism and catering directorate.
The Ministry of Railways will approach the finance minister for reimbursement of the amount offered as discount.