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Trains are a popular mode of transportation in India, conveniently connecting almost every part of the country with each other. Did you know that despite the Coronavirus pandemic, about 1.3 billion people travelled via railways across India in 2021? And this is a lower traffic, compared with the previous years’ data. This is why Indian Railways make sure to give the best quality services to its passengers as much as possible. Speaking of the latest initiative, the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) has now given the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) the flexibility to customise the food menu, in a bid to include regional cuisines and seasonal foods, besides diabetes-friendly items as well as food for babies and health-conscious passengers.
Announcing the same in an official statement on November 15, the Ministry said, “To improve catering services on trains, the Ministry of Railways has decided to give IRCTC flexibility to customise the menu so as to include the items of regional cuisines/preferences, seasonal delicacies, requirement during festivals, food items as per the preferences of different group of passengers such as diabetic food, baby food, health food options, including millet based local products, etc.”
Explaining the concept, a railway official told HT, “Passengers from southern and western states such as Maharashtra would often complain about the lack of regional food compared to the standardised ones. This will help in not only improving the food quality but also customise the menu according to the destination. For instance, a train to Gujarat will have local delicacies like Fafda, Dhokla, while one can get Vada Pav when travelling to Maharashtra. This is the first time the board has given the IRCTC such an authority.”
The present menu of IRCTC primarily comprises standardised food items and beverages, approved by the Railway Board. Clarifying the fare for the meals, the board said that for prepaid trains, in which catering charges are included in the passenger fare, the menu will be decided by IRCTC within the tariff already notified. In addition, sale of a-la-carte meals and branded food items on MRP will also be permitted in these prepaid trains. “Menu and tariff of such a-la-carte meals will be decided by IRCTC,” the order stated.
For other mail/express trains, the menu of budget segment items, like standard meals, shall be decided by IRCTC within the fixed tariff already notified. However, the menu and tariff of Janta Meals will remain unchanged. IRCTC will also ensure that the quality and standards of food items and services are maintained at all times, as well as avoid frequent and undue changes, such as curtailment in quantity and quality and the use of inferior brands.
