"Pantry cars of all trains should be designed to ensure that pre-cooked and hygienically packed food is supplied from base kitchens with minimum handling in transferring the same to the passengers," the policy states.
In a move to enhance quality of food and better services on trains, the Indian Railways is planning to make several changes in its present catering policy. Sources told DNA that Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is likely to make the big announcement next week.
According to the new catering policy, the use of pantry cars would be limited to warming up pre-cooked food and there would be no actual cooking in the pantry cars anymore. Top sources in railways said that a draft of the catering policy has been finalised and according to the draft, there will be "no cooking or washing" in pantry cars. Senior railway officials said that the new catering policy also emphasises on ensuring that best hygienic standards are maintained in distribution and storage of food in trains.
"Pantry cars of all trains should be designed to ensure that pre-cooked and hygienically packed food is supplied from base kitchens with minimum handling in transferring the same to the passengers," the policy states.
Railways has also decided to come up with special trolleys for distribution of food in order to provide quick, clean and hygienic services to train passengers. The policy states, "Suitable space should be earmarked in train coaches for stacking and service of meals and installation of catering equipments and trolleys. This will eliminate the usage of vestibules and area around the toilets presently being used for this purpose. It will ensure hygienic services. Light weight compact trolleys (specially designed) should be used in trains to ensure that food is not kept on the floor of the trains at the time of distribution."
The new catering policy has been drafted by making major changes to the existing catering policy which was unveiled in 2010. The 2010 policy shifted management and monitoring of all catering services (except food courts and fast food units) from Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to Zonal Railways. Interestingly, with the new catering policy, the railways has decided to give back most of the catering services to IRCTC.
A senior railway official, on condition of anonymity, said, "It has been decided to give back the catering services to IRCTC in a phased manner with unbundling catering services by creating a distinction primarily between food preparation and food distribution." The official added that IRCTC can outsource some of its services to private agencies. The official further said that currently, only 20 per cent of the catering services in railways is managed by IRCTC.
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