?IRCTC to start six fast food units in Nagpur division

To improve the standard of food being provided to passengers in trains, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), an arm of Indian Railways, proposes to start six fast food units in Nagpur division of Central Railway.

Ahad Siddiqui, Amrea Manager (catering services), IRCTC, said, "These units will be set up at Ajni, Ballarshah, Wardha, Dhamangaon, Chandrapur and Sevagram railway stations."

Under the new catering policy issued by the Railway Board on February 27 this year, IRCTC has been mandated to carry out the unbundling by creating a distinction primarily between food preparation and food distribution.

IRCTC officials said, "In order to upgrade quality of food preparation, IRCTC will set up new kitchens and upgrade existing ones in Nagpur and Ballarshah."

They said currently the focus is on mobile catering aboard trains across the entire Indian Railways.

Siddiqui said, "We have taken over 76 passenger trains including 40 mail/express and remaining premium trains like Rajdhani and Duronto where licencees have been appointed on pantry cars and food is also made available on mobiles. In Nagpur 15 quality food providers have been appointed."

IRCTC officials said all four base kitchens under departmental operation of Central Railway zone (Nagpur, CSTM, Mumbai Central and Ballarshah) and all kitchen units, refreshment rooms at A1 and A category stations, Jan Ahaar, cell kitchens are to be handed over to IRCTC on ‘as is where is basis’. IRCTC will set up its own kitchens at additional stations, if required.