Railways to offer affordable meals, packaged water to general coach passengers
The Indian Railways on Monday announced that it has decided to offer affordable meals and packaged water designed specifically for general coach passengers.
The Railway Board, in its order issued, said that two types of meals - one for Rs 20 and another for Rs 50 would be offered to passengers.
Counters serving these meals would be placed on platforms aligning with the general coaches, according to the order.
The railways launched this scheme after it faced criticism regarding the hardships faced by people travelling in general coaches.
The meals have been divided into two categories. Type one includes seven 'pooris' with dry 'aaloo' and pickle for a price of Rs 20. The type two meal will cost Rs 50 and offer passengers something from an assortment of South Indian food such as rice, rajma, chhole, khichdi kulche, bhature, pao-bhaji and masala dosa.
The railways also issued instructions to officials concerned to make provisions for economy meals and affordable packaged drinking water (to be served through counters) to be placed at platforms near GS coaches.
GS coaches refer to the general seating coach. It is a second-class unreserved coach.
"The meals are to be supplied from the kitchen units (Refreshment Rooms – RRs and Jan Ahaars - JAs) of IRCTC," the order stated.
The scheme would be implemented on an experimental basis for a period of six months.
As of now, the provision has been implemented at 51 stations and it will be available at 13 more from Thursday. Officials said that efforts are being made to provide drinking water glasses of 200 ml at these counters.