GST 2.0: 'Rail Neer' To Get Cheaper As Indian Railways Cuts Packaged Water Bottle Prices

Indian Railways on Saturday, Sept. 20, announced a cut in the maximum retail price of 'Rail Neer', from Rs 15 to Rs 14 for a one-litre bottle and from Rs 10 to Rs 9 for a half-litre, passing on the benefits of the historic GST reforms to passengers.

Apart from Rail Neer, maximum retail price of IRCTC/Railways shortlisted packaged drinking water bottles of other brands sold in the railway premises/trains shall also be revised from Rs 15/- to Rs 14/- per bottle of one litre and Rs 10/- to Rs 9/- per bottle of 500 ml capacity. The price cuts will come into effect from Monday, Sept. 22.

A circular issued by the board on Saturday and addressed to all zonal railways and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) said, ''Maximum retail price of packaged drinking water 'Rail Neer' shall be revised from Rs 15 to Rs 14 per bottle of one litre and Rs 10 to Rs 9 of per bottle of 500 ml capacity.''

''Maximum retail price of IRCTC/Railways shortlisted packaged drinking water bottle of other brands sold in railway premises/trains shall also be revised from Rs 15 to Rs 14 per bottle of one litre and Rs 10 to Rs 9 per bottle of 500 ml capacity,' it added. The circular said the revised prices will apply from Sept. 22.

In the recently announced GST reforms, the tax structure was simplified into two slabs of 5% and 18% from the earlier four slabs of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. This will come into effect from Sept 22.

The Government of India has enabled GST grievance redressal on National Consumer Helpline ahead of the implementation of the announced rate structure, the Department of Consumer Affairs said in a press release.

The step has been taken in anticipation of queries, complaints regarding to the latest GST rate cuts on goods and services announced in the 56th Council meeting chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.