Porter charges Rs 10,000 for wheelchair service at Delhi’s Nizamuddin station; Railway cancels his licence
Delhi: A porter at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station demanded Rs 10,000 to assist an elderly man in a wheelchair, media reports said.
After the incident came to light, the Northern Railways swung into action and investigated the matter.
The porter was identified through CCTV footage and made to refund Rs 9,000 to the family of the senior citizen. Additionally, the porter's badge and licence were revoked, The Times of India reported, quoting railway officials.
Payal, the daughter of the elderly passenger, reported the matter. Originally from Gujarat, Payal resides in London with her husband Samuel and her parents, Ritesh and Sandhya.
The family arrived in Delhi on December 21 and planned a trip to Agra, reaching Hazrat Nizamuddin station on December 28.
A senior railway official confirmed that the porter charged Rs 10,000 to assist Payal’s father with a wheelchair and luggage.
"The porter charged the family Rs 10,000 for assisting Payal's father with a wheelchair," a senior railway official was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Upon reaching Agra, Payal shared the incident with Anil Sharma, secretary of the Prepaid Auto Taxi Drivers’ Union, who informed her that wheelchair assistance at railway stations is free of cost, with porters allowed to charge only a nominal fee for their labour.
She then reported the matter to the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Agra Cantt station, which coordinated with the Nizamuddin GRP to investigate, the TOI report said.
Following the probe, Northern Railways’ Delhi division emphasised its commitment to passenger welfare and a zero-tolerance policy against misconduct.
Expressing regret over the incident, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) assured passengers that strict action would be taken against such violations.
"The railway administration appeals to all passengers to immediately contact the railway helpline number if they encounter any issues during their journey," the DRM said, according to the report.
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