In March of 2023 Western Railways announced a series of improvements planned to enhance the customer experience and now in a pioneering initiative they have inaugurated the first 'Restaurant on Wheels,' at Andheri railway station. Housed in a disused railway carriage, this restaurant is set to provide a unique dining experience and the contract for this innovative venture was awarded to M/s OAM Industries, renowned under the brand name Haldiram’s
In addition to offering a diverse range of cuisines, the establishment's primary allure will be its globally renowned sweets and snacks. The restaurant, capable of accommodating 48 patrons simultaneously, will operate around the clock and feature a takeaway counter. In a statement, Sumit Thakur, the chief spokesperson for WR, highlighted the innovative concept of repurposing old unserviceable coaches into stylish dining spaces. The objective is to enhance the dining experience for commuters, he explained. The transformation of the retired coach into a state-of-the-art restaurant, complete with an attached kitchen, was finalised at the Andheri station.
The development of additional 'restaurant-on-wheels' is currently in progress at the Borivali and Bandra stations. An official stated that the combined contract value for these three facilities will contribute ₹5.94 crore as part of non-fare revenue. Furthermore, there are plans to replicate this initiative at Surat, Bandra Terminus, Valsad, Lower Parel, and Vasai Road stations in the future.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Nagpur are both equipped with a restaurant-on-wheels, facilitated by Central Railway (CR). These locations have collectively attracted approximately 1,25,000 and 1,50,000 visitors, respectively. Shivaji Sutar, the Chief Public Relations Officer of CR, mentioned that the CSMT venue welcomes around 250 visitors on weekdays and 350 on weekends.
This move comes among a host of changes to the Indian Railway system aimed at modernising and upgrading the rail travel experience in the country.