Lok Sabha Question No. 3387 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-22
Subject: Quality of Food
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: TARIQ ANWAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3387 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2017

## QUALITY OF FOOD

†3387. SHRI TARIQ ANWAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a)  the manner in which the railway passengers are likely to be benefited in terms of quality of food due to launching of meals on wheels catering policy;
- (b)  whether this policy is proposed to be implemented in all the trains and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  base  kitchen  arrangements  in  the  trains  are  smoothly functioning in all the trains and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the time by which the facility of base kitchen is likely to be provided in the trains that do not have such facility at present; and
- (e)  the  reasons  for  charging  high  prices  for  catering  items  from  railway passengers and whether the Government proposes to check it and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b):  There  is  no  policy  named  'Meals  on  Wheels  Catering  Policy'. However, station based E-catering service on Indian Railways is provided by  Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism  Corporation  Limited  (IRCTC). IRCTC has tied up with renowned, reputed and established brands in the field  of  catering  services  so  that the passengers can order good quality Contd..2/-

and hygienic food of their choice at market driven prices.  In Rail Budget 2016-17, extension of station based e-catering service to all 408 'A1' and 'A'  category stations through IRCTC has been announced. At present, Ecatering service is available at 357 stations.  Passengers travelling from these stations are able to access E-Catering facilities for all trains having stoppage at these stations. IRCTC is facilitating booking of meals through a specified phone number/ website / SMS / Mobile Apps etc. Passengers having mobile number are able to book meals under this scheme.

(c)  &  (d):  Yes,  Madam.    At  present,  there  are  359  trains  running  with pantry car. Further, attachment of pantry car to any train depends upon order of priority with respect to category of train viz. Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto/Mail/Express  trains  etc,  availability  of  pantry cars and journey period of train etc.

(e): In its endeavour to provide quality and hygienic food at affordable rate to  the  passengers,  Railways  have  developed  and  operationalized  an institutionalized  mechanism  for  monitoring  of  quality  and  hygiene  of catering services through regular inspections at various levels to address catering complaints. Penal action is taken against the licensee depending upon the gravity of offense which inter-alia includes imposition of  hefty  fines,  termination  of  contract  etc . With  the  objective  to  provide quality food to rail passengers,  new Catering Policy 2017 has been issued on 27.02.2017 wherein Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) has been mandated to carry out the unbundling by creating  a  distinction  primarily  between  food  preparation  and  food

distribution.  The  new  catering  policy,  inter-alia,  includes  the  following features  which would help in mitigating passenger complaints related to overcharging and quality of food (i) IRCTC shall manage catering services on all mobile units. (ii) Meals for all mobile units will be picked up from the nominated kitchens owned, operated and managed by IRCTC. (iii) IRCTC will engage service providers for hospitality industry for service of food in trains.  (iv)  IRCTC  shall  not  outrightly  outsource  or  issue  licenses  for provision of catering services to private licensees.

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