Lok Sabha Question No. 2445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-21
Subject: Small Catering Vending Licences on Platforms
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane, Bhavana Gawali (Patil)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2445

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2022

## SMALL CATERING VENDING LICENSES ON PLATFORMS

†2445. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

SHRIMATI BHAVANA GAWALI PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  problems being  faced  by  small  catering  vending  licenses  operating  on  railway platforms, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any review has been done in this regard, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  received  representations  from  the Akhil Bhartiya Railways Khan-Pan Licences Welfare Association (Regd.) regarding the grievances and demands of small scale catering vending licenses working on Indian Railway platforms, if so, the details thereof:
- (d)  whether  the  Members  of  Parliament  have  also  recommended  to consider and accept the demands of the Association, if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) whether the said demands have been examined and agreed to by the Government, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  and  (b):  Yes,  Sir.  Indian  Railways  have  taken  various  measures  to ease  the  hardship  faced  by  small  licensees/  vendors,  which  are  as
- under:
- (i).  The  period for which stalls were non- operational during the Covid pandemic was treated as 'Dies-Non' and the contracts were extended accordingly.

- (ii). Relief in licence fee was given to the licensees taking into account the reduction in traffic volume and passenger footfall at stations.
- (iii). Performance security deposit has been reduced from 10% of total contract value to 3%.
- (iv).  Sale  of  packed  items  on  Fruit/Juice  stalls  has  been  allowed  to enhance sales potential.
- (v).  Zonal  Railways  have  been  delegated  powers  to  grant  platform vending permissions to the licensee of the static catering units.
- (vi).  Renewal  to  the  old  existing  catering  licenses  of  minor  static catering units is granted in accordance with Commercial Circular 22 of 2017  and  instructions  dated  27.08.2019  issued  by  the  Ministry  of Railways.
- (c) to (e): Yes, Sir. Representations from Akhil Bhartiya Railway KhanPan Licensees Welfare Association (regd.) as well as Hon'ble Members of  Parliament  have  been  received  wherein  various  reliefs  for  minor static unit vendors have been sought. These inter-alia included relief in licence  fee,  renewal  of  licences  of  minor  catering  units,  transfer  of license  to  legal  heir,  scrapping  of  the  tendering  system  envisaged  in Catering Policy 2017, relaxations in GST on licence fee, permission for sale of packed items on Fruit/Juice stalls, platform vending permission, use of cooking gas on platforms and supply of electricity on subsidised rates.  These  representations/  suggestions  have  been  examined  on merit and action taken accordingly.

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