Hyderabad:The South Central Railway on Friday said the parking lot operator at Secunderabad had been fined Rs 10,000 for overcharging a tour bus. Deccan Chronicle had reported the issue, which led to a quarrel, on April 22, ‘Bus operators, parking contractor clash on fee’.
According to an inquiry led by the assistant commercial manager of the Secunderabad division, the dispute occurred on April 21, when a tours and travels bus was stopped at the station’s access-control point.
While the bus operator alleged that that he was charged ₹1,000, the contractor’s rough cash book recorded only ₹500. The licencee instructed the staff to refund ₹500, but the operator declined. As the parking duration did not exceed the tariff-free window, no charge was warranted.
Investigators reviewed logs, system bills, licencee and staff statements, and CCTV footage which confirmed the bus was in the zone within the free-access period.
The probe found the contractor in breach of approved procedures and imposed a ₹10,000 penalty. Railways have directed all licencees to strictly adhere to prescribed tariffs and operational guidelines to prevent future inconveniences.
