IRCTC Update In a first rail passengers to get regional food menu on board

Indian Railway : For the first time in the history of Railways, the passengers will be given a menu card of a local dish (regional food). For diabetics, infants and health conscious travelers, all options will now be made available during the journey. An order of the Railway Board on Tuesday said that IRCTC has been given the flexibility to make changes to include local and regional cuisines as well as food suitable for sugar patients, children and health lovers in its menu. The board on Tuesday allowed the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to revamp its menu with an aim to improve its food catering services and give more choices to passengers.

The order said, “The catering services in the trains are being improved. Taking this forward, it has been decided to allow IRCTC to customize the menu so that regional cuisines, seasonal delicacies, festival food and other food items are included in the menu according to the preferences of the passengers. To be. Along with this, options of diabetic food, baby food, health food will also be given to the passengers.

Till now the Railway Board used to decide the menu of food. A railway official told HT, “There used to be complaints from passengers from southern and western states like Maharashtra that they do not get regional food as the railways have only one type of food and beverages. This is the first time that the board has issued an order to IRCTC. Has been given the right to modify the menu according to his own."

He said, “This will not only help in improving the quality of the food but will also allow the menu to be customized according to the destination. For example, local dishes like Fafda, Dhokla and Maharashtra’s Vada Pav are now available on a Gujarat-bound train. Will be involved in it." The order also said that the menu for prepaid trains where catering charges are included in the passenger fare will be decided within the tariff already notified by IRCTC.

Sale of a-la-carte food and branded food items at MRP will be permitted in Mail-Express trains. The menu and charges for such a-la-carte meal will be decided by IRCTC. The board, in its order, told IRCTC that while deciding the menu, it has to ensure that the quality and standards of food and service are improved and there is no repeated cut in quantity. Also maintain quality, do not use substandard brands etc. to avoid passenger complaints. It also said that the menu should be tariff compliant and the menu should be pre-notified for the information of the passengers.