Rail Budget 2014: Catering services to be improved; food courts to be set up at major stations

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Union Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday said that in order to improve the quality, hygiene of on-board catering services and to provide variety, the Indian Railways proposes to introduce Pre-cooked (Ready-to-eat) Meals of reputed brands in a phased manner.

Presenting his maiden Railway Budget 2014-15 in Parliament today he said, to bring perceptible improvement in the catering services, he proposed to introduce Quality Assurance Mechanism through Third Party Audit by NABCB certified agencies.

He said, in addition to the third party audit, a system of collecting feedback through IVRS mechanism, from the travelling passengers on the quality of food served, will be launched shortly. The Minister said, if the service is not to the standards set, especially in hygiene and the taste, severe action would be initiated against the vendors including cancellation of the contract.

The Minister said, Indian Railways also proposes to set up Food Courts at major stations to provide the option of ordering regional cuisine while onboard, through emails, SMS and Smart Phones, etc. A pilot project will be started shortly between New Delhi-Amritsar and New Delhi-Jammu Tawi sections.