"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.

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Addressing a high level review meeting today with the entire Railway Board, all General Managers of Zonal Railways and Divisional Railway Managers, the minister 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.

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, an official told PTI, adding that this will take care of the complaints of overcharging by the caterer. 

The official was quoted as saying, "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." 

Giving directions for the road map of forthcoming January-March 2019 quarter, the Minister said 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. 

Revision of Flexi fare scheme 

Meanwhile, Indian Railways' Flexi fare scheme introduced in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains from September 9, 2016 has been rationalized, Under this scheme, the fare increases by 10% with every 10% of berths sold subject to maximum limit of 1.5 times in classes Second AC, Sleeper, Second Sitting (reserved), AC Chair Car and 1.4 times in 3rd AC class. 

Based on the feedback from different quarters, a committee was constituted to review the scheme and based on certain recommendations of the panel, Flexi fare scheme in Rajdhani, Shatabdi & Duronto Trains has been rationalized.

According to government statement, the scheme has been discontinued from 15 trains, with average monthly occupancy less than 50%, for full year and from 32 trains, with average monthly occupancy between 50 to 75%, during pre-defined lean period of 3 months (February, March & August).

Maximum cap of flexi fare scheme has been reduced to 1.4 times in all flexi fare applicable classes.

Further, the graded discount has been introduced in flexi fare trains and Humsafar trains, where class-wise occupancy is less than 60%, 4 days prior to scheduled departure of the train.

The above changes have been implemented for the journey commencing on March 15, 2019 and onwards, according to a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.