Lok Sabha Question No. 5153 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Standard of Food
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5153 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## STANDARD OF FOOD

## 5153. SHRI PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  Railway  plans  to  improve  the  standard  of  food  being provided to passengers by setting up 25 mega base kitchens across the country  by  separating  the  policy  of  cooking  and  food  distribution  on board trains in future and if so, the details worked out so far;
- (b)  whether  the  Railway  proposes  not  to  issue  any  new  licences  to private parties and they will not renew the existing licences of private parties and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  new  policy  aims  to  attract  reputed  food-chain  players from the market and weed out contractors, most of who face CBI probe in corruption cases and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether  meals  for  all  mobile  units  will  be  picked  up  from  the nominated kitchens, owned, operated and managed by IRCTC and if so, the details worked out so far?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (d):  To improve the standard of food being provided to passengers in  trains,    new  Catering  Policy  has  been  issued  on  27 th   February  2017 wherein inter-alia IRCTC has been mandated to carry out the unbundling by  creating  a  distinction  primarily  between  food  preparation  and  food distribution. In order to upgrade quality of food preparation,  IRCTC is to set up new kitchens and upgrade existing ones. The salient features of the new Catering Policy 2017 are as under :-

- (i) IRCTC to manage catering service on all mobile units.  Pantry car  contracts  awarded by zonal railway  to be reassigned to IRCTC.
- (ii) Meals for all mobile units to be picked up from the nominated kitchens owned, operated and managed by IRCTC.
- (iii) IRCTC  not  to  outrightly  outsource  or  issue  licenses  for provision of catering services to private licensees. IRCTC to retain  the  ownership  and  be  fully  accountable  for  all  the issues  pertaining  to  setting  up  and  operation  of  the  Base Kitchens and quality of food.
- (iv) IRCTC to engage service providers  from  hospitality  industry for service of food in trains.
- (v) 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 are to be handed over to IRCTC on 'as is where  is  basis'.    IRCTC  to  set  up  its  own  Kitchens  at additional stations, if required.
- (vi) Kitchen  structures/land/space  to  be  handed  over  by  zonal Railways  to  IRCTC,  for  a  period  of  10  years  extendable  for another period of 5 years, on a token license fee.
- (vii) IRCTC to be responsible for management of Food Plaza, Food Courts, Fast food units within the ambit of this policy.
- (viii) The  setting up/ development  /  refurbishment  of  new  or existing  Base  Kitchens/Kitchen  units  to  be  undertaken  by IRCTC.  These  kitchens  are  to  be  owned,  operated  and managed by IRCTC.
- (ix) IRCTC to develop different types of kitchens keeping in view supply of food and usage assessed.
- (x) IRCTC to develop the Business model for the kitchens so that they can expand and enhance the service.  IRCTC to prepare a detailed concession agreement for setting up/development of the kitchens.
- (xi) Zonal railway to manage static unit (catering stall /milk stalls/ trolleys  etc.)  except  base  kitchens  and  kitchen  units  to  be handed over to IRCTC .
- (xii) For the purpose of allotment, a Refreshment Room (at B and below category stations) or a stall or a trolley to be deemed as one unit.  As such, a single unit is to be awarded through a single license.
- (xiii) Provision of perpetual renewal has been done away with. Now it  has  been envisaged that tenure of all static units (except kitchen units and Food Plaza) shall be 5 years only. Tenure of Food Plaza shall be for a period of 9 years.
- (xiv) Allotments of General Minor Units at all category stations to be  done  through  open,  competitive,  two-packet  tendering system from the eligible bidders by divisions.
- (xv) For  the  first  time,  it  has  been  envisaged  that  allotment  of Special Minor units (reserved category) at all category stations  will  be  done  by  divisions  through  open  tendering system  within  the  similar  reserved  category.  The  technical eligibility criteria has been simplified.

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