When passengers are sitting ducks

Jaswant Shetra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 17

Shopkeepers and stall owners at the local bus stand continue to overcharge passengers. Despite the issue having been highlighted in the media many times, the practice is going on unchecked. As per the rules, shopkeepers at the bus stand cannot charge more than MRP.

According to sources, most shopkeepers charge more than MRP on eatables, cold drinks and even packaged water. A 500-millilitre bottle of cold drink, which is available for Rs 35 in the open market, is being sold for Rs 40 by shopkeepers at the bus stand. Similarly, a bottle of packaged water with MRP Rs 20 is being sold for Rs 22 there. The shopkeepers have also been overcharging visitors on other eatables, said the sources.

The shopkeepers at the bus stand have been indulging in this practice for a long time. As the passengers visiting the bus stand are often in a hurry, they have no choice but to buy the eatables on increased prices.

“A few days ago, I went to buy a bottle of packaged water from a shopkeeper at the bus stand. But I was surprised when the worker of the shopkeeper demanded Rs 22 for a bottle. When I told him that the MRP printed on the bottle was Rs 20, he replied that it was priced Rs 22 at the bus stand,” said Ankush Gupta, a daily passenger.

The passengers have demanded from the bus stand authorities that they should strictly instruct the shopkeepers not to overcharge from visitors and they should keep a regular check on erring shopkeepers.

Ludhiana Bus Stand in-charge Daleep Singh said the shopkeepers couldn’t overcharge visitors and if any shopkeeper was found indulging in this practice, he would be penalised.