Railways gives IRCTC flexibility to customize food menu in trains

Train passengers can now avail a wide range of delicacies as the Ministry of Railways has decided to give IRCTC flexibility to customize the food menu.

As per the flexibility, there will be an option to include the items of regional cuisines/preferences, seasonal delicacies, requirement during festivals, food items as per the preferences of a different group of passengers such as diabetic food, baby food, healthy food options including millet based local products.

Key Highlights

For prepaid trains in which catering charges are included in the passenger fare, the menu shall be decided by IRCTC within the tariff already notified, PIB report said.

Sale of a-la-carte meals and branded food items on MRP will also be permitted in these prepaid trains.

Menu and tariff of such a-la-carte meals will be decided by IRCTC. For other Mail/Express trains, menu of budget segment items like standard meals shall be decided by IRCTC within the fixed tariff already notified. The menu and Tariff of Janta Meals shall remain unchanged.

Sale of a-la-carte meals and branded food items on MRP will be permitted on Mail/Express trains. Menu and tariff of such a-la-carte meals will be decided by IRCTC.

Meanwhile, the IRCTC has been asked to ensure that quality and standards of food and service are maintained and safeguards are built in to avoid frequent and undue changes such as curtailment in quantity and quality, and use of inferior brands to avoid passenger grievances.

The menu should be commensurate with the tariff and menus are pre-notified for information of passengers and advised to Railways before introduction.