A video was doing rounds in social media in the past one week showing a vendor coming out of train toilet with tea and coffee cans, which raised apprehension that he is mixing water in the cans inside the toilet. The Railway ministry said it has identified the vendor and action has been taken.
“The incident has occurred in Train No. 12759 Chennai Central – Hyderabad Charminar Express at Secunderabad Railway Station in the month of December 2017. An Inquiry has been held to identify the wrong doers and initiate appropriate action," it said.
The Train Side Vending contractor for the section between Secunderabad and Kazipet has been identified as P. Siva Prasad, with whom the identified vendor in the video was employed, said the statement. A penalty of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh) has been levied on the licensee, through IRCTC, the contracting agency, it added.
A show cause note has also been issued to M/s P Siva Prasad, Licensee, Train Side Vending as to why his contract for train vending, Section-4, SC-KZJ, SC-NDKD-GNT section, should not be terminated, seeking an explanation within 15 days from the issue of Show Cause Notice that was sent on May 2, 2018.
Two other persons seen in the video are unauthorized hawkers, said the ministry in its clarification and added that the Commercial Department of South Central Railway has been carrying on extensive drives against unauthorized hawking at Secunderabad Railway Station. It said two such unauthorized hawkers involved in the video have been removed.
"A strict vigil is continuously being kept at various level to ensure that no such incidents recur,” said the ministry.