Railways plans to bring assorted menu on board

LUCKNOW: From October railway passengers will have an option to order food at the time of e-ticketing, giving them a variety of regional and local cuisines to choose from.

Lakhnavi kabab, Hyderabadi biryani, pizza and burgers from popular eating joints and the local but famous 'thaali' from Itarsi will all come at the click of a mouse while travelling in trains from October. Passengers will be able to list their food preferences right at the time of booking tickets.

After being bombarded with complaints like 'cockroach in a soup' and stale food served, railways' new e-catering facility will come into effect by end of October. "Initially, passengers may order food on the IRCTC website while travelling. But there is a software being developed which will let passengers order food at the time of e-ticketing," said K L Pandey, additional member, tourism and catering, ministry of railways, talking to TOI from New Delhi.

In the conference held last week on catering in railways at Indian Railway Institute of Traffic Management (IRITM), Lucknow, officials discussed the modalities.

Several food chains and brands have been found fit on food safety and hygiene standards. There are others being tested on the set parameters.

Catering has always been an area of concern for railways. "We started providing food to passengers in three trains from our base kitchens in Gorakhpur from August 16. Presently, we are selling at least 100 thalis per day in trains, but there is a wide gap in demand and supply," said Sr DCM, NER, Lucknow, M K Singh.

Railways have shortlisted firms to provide ready-to-eat food in trains.

Meals On Chugging Wheels

a) E-catering on, but illegally

While working out modalities, Railways came across websites taking orders from passengers in moving trains and delivering them food at the nearest station in 30 minutes on pre and post payment basis. The websites are procuring food from hotels and eateries and delivering it to passengers. Lots of these websites, if they enter agreement with Railways, may deliver food legally through IRCTC. Officials share that these websites were refunding money when passengers complained against quality of food. They allow a passenger to book five meals per day. Railways would follow similar model.

b) 3 types of catering:

Static units selling beverages and snacks at railway stations

Pantry cars selling food in moving trains

Train Side Vending where at least 90% business is illegal. Unauthorised vendors sell food items to passengers in collusion with railway staff or GRP

c) Monopoly:

At least 40% of catering business is controlled by some big playe

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