New Delhi: Flooded with complaints about quality of food being served, Railways will soon come out with a new catering policy to provide quality food to passengers on rail premises.
The existing catering policy was announced in 2010 when Mamata Banerjee was the Railway Minister. "We will soon have a new catering policy for which work is going on," Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Tuesday after extending the station-based e-catering facility to 408 major stations.
He said earlier, station-based e-catering was available at 45 stations and now it has been extended to 408 major stations across the country. In order to broadbase the culinary choices, the railway has decided to involve self-help groups (SHG). "So a passenger can order food from these self-help groups also," he said.
The new facility is in accordance with the Rail Budget announcements and also in conformity with the government's Digital India initiative. "Whatever announcements have been made in the budget we will implement all. The e-catering was also one of the budget announcements," Prabhu said, adding that the e-catering facility is giving the passengers multiple choices and it is a "big step".
There are four ways for booking food at stations. First, one can dial 1323, order food and make payment through Cash on Delivery (COD) mode. Second, one can download "Food on Track" app on Android or IOS platforms, order food and make payment either in advance or through COD.
Third, food can be ordered on IRCTC's e-catering website - ecatering.irctc.co.in - make online payment in advance or through COD. Lastly, passengers can choose to SMS to 139 and order food after giving details of their PNR and seat number.
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