Dial what to eat in train journey

Mamata Banerjee is said to be a good host, known for laying out variety at her table. In one of her first moves as railway minister she is set to take her good taste to the railways. She has instructed the railways to allow passengers to order over phone dishes of their choice, from a range of national and regional favourites, before they board the train.

Rakesh Tandon, director of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), told DNA that the railways had put into motion the process by which prior order of food preferred for the journey can be placed over the phone through 139 passenger information systems.

Banerjee also wants passengers to be provided fish. “I have told (Railway Board) to improve the quality of food in trains and stations,” she said.

“There should be no compromise on quality of food. The menu should comprise both national as well as regional choices,” she said. She has also spoken in favour of greater monitoring of food and passenger amenities by the railway staff, which in the last few years been gradually outsourced to private players.

“I am not imposing my choice on people, I want them to feel comfortable while travelling on Indian railways and it is my duty as well as the duty of railway staff to ensure that,” she said.