Kochi: You may get safe-to-eat food on trains soon
IRCTC is taking over the canteens from private players.
Kochi: There is good news for train commuters in the Thiruvananthapuram division where complaints regarding food served onboard are among the highest.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has started taking over onboard catering from private contractors in a phased manner and its service is already available in three main trains.
“We’ve taken over onboard catering service in the Kerala Express, Venad Express and Kanyakumari-Mumbai CST Jayanti Janata Express. The focus is on hygiene and to make available local cuisines,” said Sreekumar Sadanandan, Regional Director, IRCTC.
Unlike private contractors, the IRCTC is setting up base kitchens near important railway stations where food will be prepared for sale in trains.
“We’ll stop making food in the pantry cars and only the refitting will be done there. This way the hygiene and quality of food materials can be ensured. The base kitchens are being set up at regular intervals so that food packets could be made available in the coaches at regular interval,” the official said.
In Thiruvananthapuram division, the base kitchens will be initially set up at Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram railway stations.
The IRCTC has also initiated steps to make available local cuisine of choice to passengers by extending its e-catering service to all ‘A-1’ and ‘A’ class stations in the division. Currently, the service is available in Ernakulam South Junction where it has tied up with women self-help group Kudumbashree.