Legal vendors at rly stn claim RPF, GRP ‘harassment’: Pune : Legal vendors claim unauthorised ones run businesses by bribing GRP, RPF officials; latter deny allegations. RAILING AGAINST BRIBERY Authorised canteen operators allege security personnel eat for free every day, harass them with heavy fines; complaint sent to railway authorities. Authorised food caterers at the Pune railway station are struggling for survival, amid claims that nothing moves for them without greasing the palms of Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel. The food vendors, who run restaurants and cater to passengers on the platform, have officially complained of harassment by RPF and GRP personnel, claiming that the latter are essentially freeloaders. What the development lays bare, though, is the ease with which these officials regularly harass vendors by imposing exorbitant fines, on any pretext whatsoever. Recently, authorised canteen operators, who give an annual rent of Rs 25 lakh to railway administration sell foodstuff on the platforms, have sent a written complaint to Pune Railway Division stating their plight, demanding intervention to provide a solution. YK Singh, spokesperson for the Pune Railway Division, told Mirror, It is necessary to conduct regular drives against illegal hawkers on station premises. However, no one has the right to impose fines on authorised vendors. We have received a complaint and will investigate the matter to take the necessary decisions. Meanwhile, one authorised vendor, expressing dissatisfaction over the state of affairs, told Mirror on condition of anonymity, After getting licences to sell foodstuff, each employee gets an identity card. However, there are many unauthorised vendors running their business by bribing GRP and RPF officials. Because of them, we are facing tremendous loss of income. Stating that unauthorised hawkers sell food products at cheaper prices, the vendor added, Instead of taking action against them, GRP and RPF impose fines on us. They expect to get regular money from us, when we are already burdened with high rental charges and other expenses. In a similar vein, another disgruntled vendor said the personnel eat for free at their restaurants. They never pay us. Every day they take food items worth Rs 2,000 to 3,000. After having free food, they also expect us to grease their palms. Recently, GRP officials booked one of our employees for selling food in the train, even though we never sell foodstuff in the train. We appealed to them to check CCTV footage, but they forcefully fined us. It is unfair to get punished without reason said Harsha Shah, president of the Railway Pravasi Group. Everyone at the railway station is fed up with GRP and RPF personnel, particularly canteen operators who pay lakhs to get a licence. Railway authority should take cognisance of this issue, Shah said. Rubbishing allegations made by vendors, GRP PI Abhay Parmar said, We follow the rules and never take unnecessary action. Vendors are not allowed to sell their products in the train — in some cases, we have taken action against such vendors. Meanwhile, Ashok Kumar Rai, divisional security commissioner of Pune Division, denied any written complaint against RPF. We never take action against persons who follow the rules, he said. ►► They never pay us. Every day they take food items worth Rs 2,000 to 3,000. After having free food, they also expect us to grease their palms - AUTHORISED FOOD VENDOR AT PUNE RLY STATION. ~ Pune Mirror |Jan 7, 2015.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 22:48:39 +0000
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