Lok Sabha Question No. 472 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-19
Subject: Quality of Food
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.472 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2017

## QUALITY OF FOOD

472. ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether it is true that all base  kitchens of Railways will be handed over  to  IRCTC  along  with  refreshment  rooms  at  major  railway  stations and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  IRCTC  will  be  setting  up  new  kitchens  and  upgrade  the existing ones to ensure quality in food supplied onboard;
- (c)  if  so,  whether  IRCTC  will  be  allowed  to  hire  professionals  from hospitality industry and will determine menu of standard meals in trains considering the local taste and cuisine in mind;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether it is also true that meal cost will still have to be approved by the Railway Board and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a)  &  (b):  Yes,  Madam.  New  Catering  Policy  has  been  notified  on  27 th February, 2017 wherein with the objective to provide quality food to rail passengers,  Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism  Corporation  Limited (IRCTC)  has  been  mandated  to  unbundle  catering  services  on  trains by creating a  distinction  primarily  between  food  preparation  and  food

Contd..2/-

distribution.  All  four  Base  Kitchens  under  departmental  operation  of Zonal  Railways  (Nagpur,  Chhatrapati  Shivaji  Terminus  (CSTM),  Mumbai Central  (BCT)  and  Balharshah)  and  all  kitchen  units  i.e.  Refreshment Rooms at A1 and A category stations, Jan Ahaar, Cell Kitchens shall be handed over to IRCTC on 'as is where is basis'.

In order to upgrade quality of catering services, IRCTC shall set up new kitchens  and  upgrade    existing  ones.  These  kitchens  will  be  owned, operated and managed by IRCTC.  IRCTC shall retain the ownership and shall be fully accountable for all the issues pertaining to setting up and operation of the Base Kitchens and quality of food.

In the first phase, unbundling of catering services is under implementation on Delhi - Mumbai Sector.  Base kitchens  & Jan Ahaars at CSTM  and BCT  have been taken over by IRCTC from Zonal Railways.

(c)  &  (d):  New  Catering  Policy,  inter-alia,  stipulates  that  IRCTC  shall manage  catering  services  on  all  mobile  units,  meals  for  which  will  be picked up from the nominated kitchens owned, operated and managed by IRCTC.    Further,  IRCTC  will  engage  service  providers  from  hospitality industry  for  service  of  food  in  trains  by  giving  adequate  emphasis  on availability of regional cuisine all over Indian Railways.

(e):  As per new Catering Policy 2017,  Menu and Tariff of food items will be  fixed  as  follows:-  (i)  For  Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto  trains  and  such other  trains  in  which  catering charges are inbuilt in the passenger fare,

the menu shall be decided by IRCTC in consultation with Railway Board to make it commensurate with the tariff, which will be fixed by Railway Board.  (ii)  For  controlled  segment  items/standard  menu/Janta  Meals  on units  handed  over  to  IRCTC,  the  menu  shall  be  decided  by  IRCTC  in consultation  with  Zonal  Railways  within  the  fixed  tariff  approved  by Railway Board. (iii) Menu and tariffs for Food Plaza, Food Courts and Fast Food units will be decided and fixed by IRCTC.

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