Railways overhauls catering policy for better food availability
Indian Railways is overhauling its catering policy to better optimise food availability in trains on the national transporter. Base kitchens for clusters of trains will be formed under fresh changes to the catering policy.
According to commercial circular issued earlier this week, the management of catering services on trains over Indian Railways shall be managed by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) under the framework of this policy.
“To consider adequate volume and economies of scale, award of contract shall be done for a cluster of trains and the base kitchens mapped with the cluster instead of an individual train,” the circular said while adding that at least two clusters exist in one route or direction.
Clusters should be formed basis trains on a particular route. Not more than 10 pairs of trains can be taken in any one cluster.
“If the total number of trains in a cluster is up to 5 pairs, then the cluster should contain one Premium Prepaid train along with Mail/Express trains. If the cluster contains 6 to 10 pairs of trains then it should a maximum of two premium prepaid trains,” the circular said.
The location of base kitchens need to be specified in advance and IRCTC will ensure that no meal is sourced from elsewhere.
Further, the location of base kitchens shall be decided keeping in view the transit time and delivery to the station so that food quality is maintained.
Contracts for supplying food in the trains will be for five years, and subject to a two year extension. The base kitchens need to be monitored using CCTV cameras.
