Lok Sabha Question No. 2334 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: Quantity of Food
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2334 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.12.2018

## QUANTITY OF FOOD

## 2334. SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Railways  is  contemplating  to reduce the quantity of meals served in the trains;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  this  move  would  not  make  the  passengers  to  pay more for consuming less quantity of food; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  being  taken  by  the Government  to  increase  the  quality  of  food  served  in  trains and to reduce their prices while reducing the quantity?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2334  BY  SHRI  GUTHA  SUKENDER REDDY TO BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 26.12.2018 REGARDING QUANTITY OF FOOD

- (a) to  (c)  :  No,  Madam.  In  terms  of  Catering  Policy  2017,  IRCTC has been rationalizing the Menu of pre paid trains where catering charges are inbuilt in the passenger fare. Under rationalization of Menu, IRCTC has changed the nature of meals as per the needs of  passenger.  The  Menu  is,  however,  commensurate  with  the existing tariff.
- (d)  :  To  improve  the  quality  of  food  served  following  measures have been taken:
- (i) Upgradation of Base Kitchens/Kitchen Units.
- (ii) Installation of CCTV in Base Kitchens and their centralized monitoring.
- (iii) Sharing  of  live  streaming  of  the  Base  Kitchens  through website of IRCTC made operational.
- (iv) Deployment of Food Safety Supervisors.
- (v) Examination of quality of food, hygiene and cleanliness in pantry cars by third party audit.
- (vi) Provision of E-Catering services at railway stations.
- (vii) Introduction of Optional Catering and Ready to Eat (RTE) Meals on selected trains.
- (viii) Upgradation and revision of a la carte Menu on selected trains.
- (ix) Display of Menu/Tariff list.
- (x) Introduction of Eco-friendly Sugar Bagasse (Biodegradable) packaging material.
- (xi) Provision of Service trolleys in Rajdhani and Duronto trains.
- (xii) Provision  of  Hand  sanitizers  in  Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains.
- (xiii) Meal Trays of bio-degradable material with air tight sealed cover for packing of meals from kitchens is being introduced initially on selected Rajdhani and Duronto trains.
- (xiv) Introduction  of  Automatic  vending  machines  on  Humsafar trains.
- (xv) Provision  of  tablets  to  on  board  catering  supervisors  for passenger feedback and inspection applications.
- (xvi) Qualification  and  experience  of  on  board  Catering  Service Staff has been fixed.
- (xvii) Introduction of Hand held PoS machine along with QR  code on pilot basis on selected trains.
- (xviii) Customer satisfaction survey by Third Party Agencies.
- (xix) Monitoring  and  supervision  of  catering  service  through Operation  of  centralized  Catering  Service  Monitoring  Cell (CSMC)  toll  free  number  1800-111-321,  Operation  of  All India  Helpline  No.  138,  Twitter  handle,  CPGRAMS,  E-Mail and SMS based complaints redressal.

*****