Lok Sabha Question No. 4629 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Audit of Catering Services
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Arvind Kumar Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4629

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.03.2023

## AUDIT OF CATERING SERVICES

†4629. DR. ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  trains  in  which  the  catering  services  are  being provided to passengers, zone-wise;
- (b)  the  number  of  trains  whose  travelling  distance  is  more  than  1000 kilometres and are running without pantry car;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the Government is planning to conduct audit of  the  catering  service  to  maintain  the  quality  of  food  in  trains  and  at stations; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a): It is continuous endeavour of Indian Railways to ensure availability of  catering  services  in  trains  either  through  Pantry  Car/  Mini  Pantry  or Trains  Side  Vending  or  e-Catering  or  through  static  catering  units  at enroute  stations.  Zone-wise  list  of  1164  pairs  of  trains,  having  Pantry

Car/ Mini Pantry or Train Side Vending facility, is Appended.

(b): There are 315 pairs of trains having journey distance more than 1000 kilometres that do not have pantry cars.

(c) and (d): To check quality, hygiene and standards of catering services in  trains  and  at  stations,  regular  inspection  and  special  drives  are conducted  by  Indian  Railways  /Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC).

In  addition  to  the  above,  during  2022-23,  Third  Party  Audit  of  catering services has been conducted in 390 mobile units and 209 static units by an  independent  agency,  M/s  IR  Class  System  &  Solutions  (P)  Ltd., appointed by IRCTC.

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APPENDIX  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4629 BY DR. ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  29.03.2023  REGARDING  AUDIT  OF  CATERING SERVICES

(a):  Zone-wise  list  of  number  of  pairs  of  trains  in  which  the  catering services are being provided to passengers is as under:

| S. No.   | Zonal Railway   |   No. of Pairs of Trains having Pantry Car/ Mini Pantry or Train Side Vending facility |
|----------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | CR              |                                                                                    112 |
| 2        | ECoR            |                                                                                     69 |
| 3        | ECR             |                                                                                     49 |
| 4        | ER              |                                                                                     99 |
| 5        | NCR             |                                                                                     29 |
| 6        | NER             |                                                                                     55 |
| 7        | NFR             |                                                                                     45 |
| 8        | NR              |                                                                                    135 |
| 9        | NWR             |                                                                                     60 |
| 10       | SCR             |                                                                                     95 |
| 11       | SECR            |                                                                                     18 |
| 12       | SER             |                                                                                     61 |
| 13       | SR              |                                                                                     99 |
| 14       | SWR             |                                                                                     59 |
| 15       | WCR             |                                                                                     30 |
| 16       | WR              |                                                                                    149 |
| Total    | Total           |                                                                                   1164 |

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