Railways to open over 100 food plazas, multi-cuisine restaurants at stations

The Indian Railways have decided to open fast food plaza, fast food units and multi-cuisine restaurants at stations, taking over from its catering arm Indian Railway Tourism and Catering Corporation (IRCTC). The move is seen as part of a plan to generate non-fare revenue, according to an order issued by the Railway Board.

The order, dated March 8, has given permission to the 17 zonal railways to use vacant space at stations for such units. The Indian Railway Tourism and Catering Corporation (IRCTC), which is responsible for serving food on board trains and in its static units, was set up primarily to segregate non-rail works from the railways, whose primary job is to run trains. With the IRCTC failing to set up such units, causing huge losses in revenue for the railways, it has now been decided to hand over this responsibility to zonal railways. 

The IRCTC has been unable to set up these food courts primarily because of high licence fee, high rate of rail land and wrong choice of place for setting up such units as stipulated in the catering policy of 2017. Sources quoted by news agency PTI indicate that a review of the policy is currently underway.

The order has further stated that general managers of zonal railways conduct review of sites for major catering units that have been vacant for one year or more and set up food outlets with provision of local or regional cuisine.