Railways to allow IRCTC food stalls on platforms

With an aim to provide quality food to passengers, the Railway Board has decided to allow IRCTC to set up food stalls on railway platforms.

At present, IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Touring Corporation) is allowed to set up food stalls at the concourse area only. On the platforms, local vendors are allowed to set up food stalls.

With several complaints about unhygienic, poor quality and overcharging of food, the Railway Board has decided to allow IRCTC to set up stalls on platforms.

The Railway Board issued circulars to all zonal railway officials to facilitate setting up of IRCTC-managed food stalls at platforms on a needs basis.

Based on similar complaints, the Railway Board handed over the task of managing the pantry car on trains to the IRCTC.

At present, IRCTC manages the pantry car in 300 trains, including premium trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto. On the remaining trains, the company will take charge once the existing contract with private vendors expires, a Railway Board official said.

The IRCTC has also set up several base kitchens across the country. In select base kitchens, live video streaming of cooking activities is being undertaken to ensure transparency and accountability, the official added.