At Churchgate railway station, a shop named Friends Bite has been sealed by the Western Railway authorities after a report revealed that bottled drinking water was being sold at a price above the approved price. The action was taken after it was revealed that a bottle of Rail Neer, officially priced at ₹14, was being sold for ₹20. Railway officials confirmed that a proposal has also been forwarded to the commercial department recommending further punitive action against the vendor for violating railway pricing rules and overcharging passengers.
With summer temperatures rising sharply, the demand for bottled drinking water at railway stations has increased significantly. Taking advantage of this surge in demand, several stall operators at stations under the Mumbai division of Western Railway have allegedly been charging passengers higher prices than permitted. It was found that the official stalls at Churchgate railway station and Mahalaxmi railway station were selling the ₹14 bottle of Rail Neer for ₹20. The pricing of the water bottles is regulated so that ordinary passengers can access affordable drinking water during travel.
However, despite the fixed price meant to benefit commuters, some vendors were reportedly charging an additional ₹6 per bottle, effectively exploiting passengers. Railway authorities stated that this practice amounts to unfair profiteering and violates the rules set for licensed vendors operating on railway premises. Officials also indicated that an investigation will be carried out to determine whether similar overcharging practices are occurring at other railway stations within the Mumbai division of Western Railway.
Following the complaint, the station manager and deputy station supervisor at Churchgate railway station conducted an on-site inspection to verify the allegations. During the inquiry, they questioned a passenger who had purchased a bottle of water from Friends Bite. The passenger confirmed that he had bought the bottle for a higher price than the fixed price. After documenting the findings, the officials prepared a report and submitted it to senior authorities. Based on this report, the shop was ordered to be shut down while further action is being considered.