PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, Feb 18: As many as 14 unauthorised vendors were caught selling edibles at both the railway stations of Ranchi and in the trains from which Rs 14,000 was collected as a fine from January 2022 to date.
Among the 14 hawkers, six were caught at Ranchi Railway station whereas 8 were caught at Hatia station.
Despite having authorised vendors to sell the edibles at the railway stations and in the trains, the passengers still expect the poor unauthorised vendors to add a flavour of taste which makes the market competitive.
The poor unauthorised vendors are restricted from selling edibles on the train as well as the railway stations of Ranchi in the view of security and threat to the passengers. But they are still being seen in various trains originating from both Hatia and Ranchi Railway stations.
Railway Protection Force Inspector S K Jha said that no unauthorised vendors are allowed inside the stations as well as in the trains. If they are caught selling products, they are booked under Railway Act 144 (prohibition of hawking and begging).
“The act prescribes for a fine of Rs 1000 – 2000 or 1 month of jail. The fine can be collected by RPF personnel if caught selling products. A total of 6 vendors have been caught under this by RPF in 2022,” Jha said.
Railway officials of the Ranchi rail division said that only authorised vendors are allowed to sell their products inside the Railway stations and the trains.
However, passengers travelling by train feel that the unauthorised vendors have variety and it also helps in creating a competition between the authorised and unauthorised sellers which eventually helps in better service to the passengers.
“My son is very keen on having different kinds of edibles brought by the vendors during the journey and he continuously waits for them to arrive so that he can demand to have them. If they are not allowed, the train journey will become boring,” Manoj Kumar travelling to Patna with his family said.
An expert said that these poor unauthorised vendors should be given employment by the authorised vendors so that they can also sell their products and a share of which can be shared with the authorised sellers.
“In such a manner the unauthorised sellers will also become authorised and in this way, the quality of product will also be maintained and the security will also be intact,” the expert said.
