'Refund The Entire Train': 'Chaiwala' Overcharging Video Goes Viral; IRCTC Reacts

A man travelling on the Delhi - Amritsar Express has exposed an alleged overcharging scam by vendors on the train. Despite fixed prices for items like tea and water set by Indian Railways, vendors were reportedly charging passengers extra. The man confronted one such vendor in a viral video, which has now gained massive traction online and even received a response from IRCTC.The video, shared on Instagram by a user identified as Avdhesh Kaushal, shows the passenger highlighting the issue. In the clip, he says, ''Delhi–Amritsar Express: overcharging on food, overcharging on coffee, overcharging on water. So I have filed a complaint.''He also displayed the complaint, which read: “Complaint description: Train 14679 Delhi–Amritsar Express. Issue

of overcharging on every item - tea priced at Rs 10 being sold at a higher rate, coffee at Rs 20, water bottles overpriced, and biryani served without salan, curd, or even a napkin. The vendor also misbehaved. Forwarded for penalty.”The video then shows a confrontation between the passenger and the vendor. The man tells the vendor that he has contacted the manager, while the vendor offers to return the extra money. However, the passenger insists that the issue be addressed by the manager. He says, “I will not withdraw the complaint. People don’t even realise they are being overcharged, and the government has already fixed these rates. If you want to refund me, refund the entire train.”As the passenger refuses to take back the complaint, the vendor appears nervous and repeatedly offers to return the extra money. Later, the man mentions that he spoke to the manager over a call, who allegedly said he was not on the train. The passenger questions how the issue would be resolved if the manager is not present.He further adds, “People don’t act on such issues because they are unaware. But if there is a problem, you should raise a complaint. Whether the country improves or not depends on you.”

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A post shared by avdhesh kaushal (@kyahaikaushal)

The video was captioned: “If you think they’re poor, just do the math once. That extra ₹100 from every passenger, every coach, every journey—it adds up to thousands in a single trip. Now think about families in general class or second seating, already stretching every rupee, yet being forced to pay ₹180 for a meal worth ₹80. For them, this isn’t just overcharging; it’s the difference between eating or going to sleep hungry. Next time you see this, don’t ignore it. Someone’s hunger is hidden behind that extra money.”The clip has since gone viral, garnering over a million views, more than 1,000 comments, and over 1 lakh likes, along with a flood of reactions online.Meanwhile, the issue gained such traction that IRCTC responded, stating: “Taking a very serious view of the passenger’s complaint, the service staff and pantry car manager have been removed from service. A show-cause notice for termination of contract has been issued, along with the imposition of a hefty penalty on the service provider. We are also planning to introduce e-pantry services on the train, allowing passengers to book meals in advance through digital payments to eliminate such issues.''