Gaya administration stakes claim over surcharge levied by railways

GAYA: Gaya district magistrate Abhishek Singh has staked claim over Pitrapaksha Mela surcharge levied by the railways. The railways levy a surcharge of Rs 5 on all tickets irrespective of class and destination.
The surcharge is levied on tickets issued during the fortnight-long Pitrapaksha Mela, when several lakh Hindu pilgrims from India and abroad perform ‘pindadaan’ ritual for the salvation of souls.The Pitrapaksha Mela will begin on September 12 and end on September 27.
Most pilgrims use railway services for travelling to and from Gaya. The levy is realised from everyone, who boards a train from Gaya and even normal passengers, who buy ticket during the period have to pay the Pitrapaksha Mela surcharge.
According to the DM, the surcharge was introduced as per the provisions of Bihar and Orissa Places of Pilgrimage Act, 1920. The money is to be used for better management for lodging, sanitation, transportation, health and other facilities related to the pilgrims. The Act also mandates accommodation of pilgrims only in licensed houses, duly inspected, assessed, and authorised by the medical and executive officers.
Till 2005, the railways regularly remitted revenue generated from the Pitrapaksha Mela surcharge to the duly constituted Lodging House Committee. From 2006 onwards, the railways stopped remission of the surcharge. This has caused strain on the Mela management.
The DM said that he has written to the railways to remit the surcharge to the Lodging House Committee.
Gaya DM is the ex- officio chairman of the committee. “The non-remission of surcharge by the railways is a violation of the Act as the surcharge is levied for providing amenities to the pilgrims and the Lodging House Committee alone is accountable for the purpose. We hope that railways will appreciate the purpose of the surcharge and remit the money thus received,” Singh said.
Gaya station manager KK Tripathi said, “As it is a financial matter, I am not authorised to take a stand on the issue. It has to be sorted out at the rail division level and it is for the divisional commercial manager of Mughalsarai division of the railways to take a call.”
Meanwhile, heaps of construction debris lying at several points on Gaya station premises are causing inconvenience to rail passengers. Gaya station manager Tripathi said the debris will be removed before the commencement of the Pitrapaksha Mela.