IRCTC gets charge of 23 more trains for managing catering services

As a part of the Indian Railways' effort to bring in efficient management in train's food supply services, Indian Railways Catering Tourism Corp (IRCTC) is now set to manage catering services on 23 more trains. 

Following the addition, the number of trains has been increased to 115 - under IRCTC. 

Among the newly added trains are Purushottam Express, Patna-Ranchi Jan Shatabdi, Kalka Mail, Bhrahmaputra Mail, Licchawi Express, Bangalore City-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express and Bangalore City-Chennai Shatabdi and many more. 

Earlier IRCTC used to manage catering service of  65 express trains, six Rajdhanis, 13 Duronto, six Shatabdi and two Suvidha trains. Of these 29 trains are served by the department and 63 through licensees.

In the Railway Budget 2016-17, Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Railways had announced that IRCTC would manage catering services in a phased manner. He also added that the IRCTC would unbundle catering services by creating a distinction primarily between food preparation and food distribution.

For unbundling catering service, an announcement  will be made soon with plans to streamline catering operations by setting up base kitchens across the country and assigning separate agencies to prepare and distribute the food.

A K Manocha, Chairman of IRCTC said,“As we take up more responsibilities, we are proud of the confidence the Railways has in the quality and efficiency of the catering provided by the IRCTC. Our goal will be to continue to improve the services for the passengers.” 

Going ahead, IRCTC will also manage catering services on all new trains along with the trains introduced on short notice or otherwise. Also the trains whose contract has been terminated or surrendered will also be closely watched by IRCTC.

Not only this, IRCTC also planning to construct budget hotels at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh and Sawantwadi near Goa on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. It has already invited expression of interest for these projects.

Also, IRCTC plans to build a Rail Neer plant in Hapur in Uttar Pradesh holding capacity of 1 lakh litres per day. The setting up of plant focuses at serving Agra, Muradabad, Izzatnagar and Delhi division. It is expected to be functional in the next one and a half years.

At present there are six Rail Neer plants operational in Delhi, Patna, Chennai, Amethi, Mumbai and Trivandrum, with a combined capacity of 7 lakh litres per day. A seventh rail neew plant is expected to be open at Bilaspur will in the next 2-3 months.