Indian Railways Catering Facilities

Indian Railways Catering Facilities

Catering facilities:

To improve the standard of food being provided to passengers, new Catering Policy has been issued on 27th February, 2017 wherein inter-alia Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) has been mandated to carry out the unbundling by creating a distinction primarily between food preparation and food distribution. In order to upgrade quality of food preparation, IRCTC is to set up new kitchens and upgrade existing ones. Further steps being taken to ensure that good quality and hygienic food is served to the passengers inter-alia include:

i. Optional catering service has been introduced as a pilot project, on 32 Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains under the management of IRCTC with effect from 01.08.2017 for an initial period of 180 days.

ii. Introduction of station based E-Catering for widening the range of options available to passengers for ordering food of their choice.

iii. Pilot for introduction of precooked food (‘ready to eat’ meals) in the range of options available to passengers.

iv. Operation of centralized Catering Service Monitoring Cell (CSMC) (toll free number 1800-111-321) for prompt redressal of passenger grievances relating to the catering activities and real time assistance to travelling public.

v. Operation of all India Helpline (No.138) for rail-users to lodge complaints/suggestions regarding food and catering services

vi. A Twitter handle @ IRCATERING has also been made operational to cater to the complaints/suggestions with regard to catering services.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri RajenGohain in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today