Goyal asks officials to call off baggage penalty drive

New Delhi: After the massive public outcry over Indian Railways' proposed drive to penalise travellers for carrying baggage beyond a permissible limit, the Railways won't charge a six-time penalty for carrying excess luggage.

The directive to hold the move initiated by Railway Board officials has come from Railway Minister Piyush Goyal as it is believed that the implementation of the over 30-year old rule might hurt the image of the Railways

According to sources, describing the move as politically damaging, concerned officials have been directed to put the drive on hold.

However, the Railways on Wednesday clarified that the drive was just about educating/counselling passengers not to carry excess luggage as it caused much inconvenience to fellow passengers.

The Railways had on Tuesday decided to strictly enforce its over-three-decade-old baggage allowance rules that allow railways to penalise those travelling with excess baggage.