Railways’ new catering policy: IRCTC will now manage all food services
IRCTC to manage all food services, including pantry car contracts
The kitchen contracts will be handed over to IRCTC for a period of 10 years, extendable for another period of 5 years
The railways has also entered into a partnership with the department of posts to provide end-toend parcel services to the customers
Heeding to complaints on the bad quality of food being served on trains, the Indian 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 Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (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 `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 each category of minor catering units at all category of stations has been provided.
The railways has also entered into a partnership with the department of posts to provide end-toend parcel services to the customers.
“This goes with our efforts at looking at alternate sources of revenue,” railway minister Suresh Prabhu said.