Railways ushers in new catering policy

New Delhi: Heeding to complaints on the bad quality of food being served on trains, the Railways has introduced a new catering policy, wherein the IRCTC will manage all food services on trains. Even the pantry car contracts, awarded by zonal railways, will also be reassigned to IRCTC.

As per the new policy, the pantry car meals for all mobile units will be picked up from nominated kitchens, owned operated and managed by IRCTC. The agency will also develop different archetypes of kitchens keeping in view supply of food and usage assessed.

The IRCTC will also be handed over all four base kitchens under departmental operation of zonal railways and all kitchen units i.e. refreshment rooms at A1 and A category stations. Apart from this, Jan Ahaar and cell kitchens shall also be handed over to the IRCTC on “as is, where is basis”.

The agency may also set up its own kitchens at additional stations, if required. The kitchen contracts will be handed over by zonal railways to IRCTC for a period of 10 years, extendable for another period of 5 years, on a token license fee of Rs 1.

Also allotment of milk stalls at all stations shall be done through open tender system as against calling application. The railways will also provide a 33 per cent sub quota for women in allotment of minor catering units.The railways has also entered into a partnership with the postal department to provide end-to-end parcel services. “This goes with our efforts for other sources of revenue,” the railway minister said.