Mamata creates a pretty kettle of fish

Railway minister Mamata Banerjee could not have chosen a worse time for reintroducing fish in train menus. The searing heat across the country is making the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) struggle to keep Banerjee’s favourite food in the supply chain.

The IRCTC’s managing director Rakesh Tandon told DNA that keeping the fish fresh is a task in itself. “There is no such thing as a cold chain when it comes to catering on the railways,” said Tandon.

“We try to ensure that fish is served in the first meal of any journey so that we do not have to store it for longer. We have been getting some complaints.”

Apart from dry, fried fish, the IRCTC has experimented with some forms of fish curry, most notably, macher jhol, a typical Bengali preparation. “But, as I said, the freshness factor is a major consideration,” Tandon said.

Banerjee has also put a spoke in the IRCTC's finances. One, she has demanded that fish curry and rice be available at a discounted Rs30 instead of Rs60 per plate — “We will have to tamper with the proportions to make this possible,” Tandon said.

Two, she has insisted that items which were taken off the Rajdhani menu owing to costs — catering rates in trains have remained the same for the last 10 years — be restored. “Yes, soup, ice-cream and curd are back on the menu. Curd is back even on the Janta menu, which comprises puri aloo for [a measly] Rs 10,” Tandon said.