Indian Railways is all set to offer its passengers a discount on cashless payments for paid catering services. It has been decided that an immediate discount of 5% will be granted on the purchase of food items from government sanctioned platform stalls and train pantry cars on payment by debit and credit cards. The discount is available only on mail and express trains that offer paid catering services.
This is a deliberate step by the Railway Board towards the digitisation of train services. Previously, the board decided to waive off the service charge on the booking of e-tickets. Since the demonetisation stint of 2016, the government is encouraging digital means of cash transaction.
To ensure that cashless payments for catering services become a norm among people, Indian Railways ordered this system to be initially applicable upto June 30, 2017. For a smooth functioning of this system, the vendors and service providers will be necessarily providing a digitised bill to the customer, a copy of which will be for them to get a reimbursement from the railway administration later.
The Railways has also appointed a Commercial Inspector to ensure that there are no discrepancies in the process. The inspector’s chief role would be to verify the bills and to authenticate the total discount amount on a monthly basis.
