Telangana: Railways to rein in caterers

Hyderabad: The Railway Board has issued internal circulars to all the railway zones across the country for taking stringent action against erring caterers.

The board said in the circular to increase penalties against erring catering contractors who violate rules.

An official from commercial wing of South Central Railway said that they were imposing penalties to caterers and contractors from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 depending on the seriousness of the violation. “In many cases, we imposed Rs 5,000 penalty which is very small for the canteen, caterers and catering contractors. That too, after a comprehensive enquiry by taking statements of complainants and following the final report, we impose penalties,” the official said.

As per the new circular, the official said that the erring caterers could be imposed huge penalties ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. “Besides this, the circular directed all the commercial wings to gear up investigation on complaints from passengers against catering services,” the official said.

Most of the catering contractors in railways are giving their contracts on sub-leases to other parties and to get more profits they are increasing prices of food against the menu-card prepared by the railway board.