Railway official suspended over ‘wrong’ RTI reply

Mumbai: Central Railway (CR) has transferred two of its officials and suspended one after they gave incorrect information in reply to a Right to Information (RTI) query. CR launched a crackdown after several discrepancies were found in the RTI reply.

Recently, food stalls at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) were deemed suspicious and terminated. The food stalls were removed as catering business on the station was suffering severe losses in Mumbai.  The Railways’ initiatives such as Rail Neer — the water bottles sold at stalls — have fallen flat.

The RTI reply claimed that the one kg of Amul curd was purchased at `9,720, while 58 litres of refined oil was purchased at `72,034 in March 2016 and 150 packets of Tata salt were bought at the cost of `49 each instead of the MRP price of `15.

CR chief commercial manager Shailendra Kumar said, “We have taken action against the officials who had given this wrong information, but we would like to go on record categorically to state that these items have been procured at the right price and we will explain the issue to those who still have doubt.”

The action was taken after a newspaper published a story based on the RTI reply. Union minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted on Tuesday morning that an inquiry would be conducted to into the matter. “Immediate enquiry ordered on reports of overpricing in CR in certain purchases. Asked Chairman Railway Board to take serious action on any wrongdoings,” said Mr Prabhu tweeted.