Theme-based rail coach restaurants to be launched by March-end at rly. stations
These restaurants are coming up at KSR Railway Station in Majestic and SMVT. SWR has already set up a themebased rail coach restaurant at Sri Siddharoodha Swami Railway Station in Hubballi
The muchawaited Rail Coach restaurants at Bengaluru railway stations are scheduled to become operational by the end of March, according to railway officials.
The themebased rail coach restaurants are coming up at the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station in Majestic and at Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal in Baiyappanahalli (SMVT).
A South Western Railways(SWR) official said, “The June 2023 eauction for restaurants garnered significant interest from bidders. M/s Haldirams secured the operation of the KSR station restaurant, while Gaurav Enterprises took charge at SMVT. The contract spans five years.”
SWR has already set up a themebased rail coach restaurant at Sri Siddharoodha Swami Railway Station in Hubballi. The rail coach restaurant is named ‘Bogie Bogie’.
“Similar to the one in Hubballi, the rail coach restaurant will be using a railway coach, which will be modified to suit the tastes of connoisseurs of food,” the official said.
AC and non-AC seating The earlier deadline to start the themebased rail coach restaurants was October 2023. According to officials, the rail coach restaurants will be positioned near the main entrance of railway stations and feature airconditioned dining spaces. Additionally, nonairconditioned seating arrangements will be available outside the dining area. The refurbished railway coach will be adorned with paintings, warm lighting, and comfortable seats.
For now, the SWR has planned to start only one such restaurant in each station. According to the plan, selected bidders will be assigned an empty coach to transform into a themebased restaurant, operating 24/7. SWR aims to cater to the preferences of both vegetarian and nonvegetarian eaters by incorporating separate kitchens for each. The restaurants will offer a diverse menu featuring both North and South Indian delicacies, providing seating for 50 people inside the coach restaurant and additional outdoor seating, the official explained.