Catering on trains: 'No tips please, if no bill, your meal is free'-be displayed in coaches by march
New Delhi, Jan 4: 'No tips please, if no bill, your meal is free' - printed on a tin plate with a rate list of the menu be publicly displayed on trains by March this year, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has instructed all zonal railways to ensure transparency in catering services.
Speaking at a high level review meeting with senior railway officials on Thursday, Goyal also issued directions that a single helpline number for all non-security complaints be developed for the convenience of passengers by the end of January 2019.
He said that WiFi connectivity should be extended to 2000 stations from the present 723, even offering a reward for those Division Railway Managers who achieve early completion of WiFi works at stations, a senior official present in the meeting said.
"The Minster also advised that PoS (point of sale) machines with swipe and bill generating machine should be distributed in all trains to each catering staff and TTEs by March 31, 2019. He said that this will take care of the complaints of overcharging by the caterer.
"All trains with catering facility should have rate list displaying prices of menu inclusive of GST and printed on a tin plate by March 2019. The following lines also to be written on the tin plate - No tips please, if no bill, your meal is free," the official said.
While reviewing the performance during the current year so far, the Minister gave directions for the road map of forthcoming January-March 2019 quarter and said that it was necessary to monitor the progress and suggested that an integrated dash board portal displayable on a screen should be put in place by January 15.
Taking note of substantial progress in the construction of Dedicated Freight Corridor, Goyal said commissioning of 777 Kms of both eastern and western DFC should be ensured by the end of February 2019.
The meeting was attended by the entire Railway Board, all General Manager of Zonal Railways and Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) of all the 68 Railway divisions. The DRMs were linked through Video Conferencing.
The minister also instructed that the 3D Digital Museums at 100 stations to be completed before February 15.
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Riyan Parag likely to be fined 25 percent of match fees for vaping inside dressing room
New Delhi (PTI): Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag is set to be fined 25 per cent of his match fee for bringing the game into "disrepute" after being caught vaping on camera during the IPL game against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
Parag's actions during the Royals' chase on Tuesday night drew condemnation on social media.
PTI has learned that on field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon had not reported the matter to match referee Amit Sharma right after the game. They only did that after seeing visual proof and Sharma found Parag guilty for a code of conduct breach as per the IPL guidelines.
The Level 1 offences carries 25 per cent deduction from match fees and one demerit point.
"He is set to be fined a portion of his match fees and a demerit point for a Level 1 offence," said an IPL source.
The Indian government had banned e-cigarettes back in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale and distribution. As per the law, the offender faces imprisonment up to one year and/or a Rs one lakh fine for a first time offence.
"Article 2.21 of IPL Code of Conduct is intended to cover all types of conduct that bring the game into disrepute and which is not specifically and adequately covered by the specific offences set out elsewhere in this Code of Conduct, including Article 2.20," the IPL Code of Conduct states.
"By way of example, Article 2.21 may (depending upon the seriousness and context of the breach) prohibit, without limitation, the following: (a) public acts of misconduct; (b) unruly public behaviour; and (c) inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game.
"When assessing the seriousness of the offence, the context of the particular situation, and whether it was deliberate, reckless, negligent, avoidable and/or accidental, shall be considered.
"Further, the person lodging the Report shall determine where on the range of severity the conduct lays (with the range of severity starting at conduct of a minor nature (and hence a Level 1 Offence) up to conduct of an extremely serious nature (and hence a Level 4 Offence)."
Since it is a Level 1 offence there was no need for a hearing.
Parag, who has not had the best of times with the bat this IPL, was seen inhaling an e-cigarette, also known as vaping, in the dressing room during the live broadcast of their game against Punjab Kings. Royals won the game to end Kings' unbeaten run in the tournament.
This is not the first controversy to hit the Royals this season. Earlier this month, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs one lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after being found using his phone in the dugout.
IPL and BCCI officials involved in the conduct of the IPL termed it as a careless act in the age of social media and prying TV cameras.
Royals next host Delhi Capitals at home on Friday night.
