IRCTC Will No Longer Operate Food Outlets At Railway Stations; Zonal Railways Will Open, Manage 100+ Food Outlets

The railway board has given the responsibility of setting up major static commercial units such as food plazas, fast food units and restaurants to zonal railways.

The official order said that the tourism and catering arm of Indian Railways, IRCTC, has been entrusted to set up these units. Though many spaces allotted continue to remain vacant.

There is massive loss of railway revenue as well as non-provision of passenger service due to the vacant spaces. To operate such commercial catering units, various railway zones have requested the railway board for delegation of power.

GMs Asked To Conduct Review Of Sites

For conducting the review of major commercial catering units like food plazas, food courts and restaurants, the railways has decided to give powers to general managers of zonal railways to conduct review of sites.

With the provision of local cuisine on the sites which have been found vacant for one year or more, the managers have been directed to set up commercial food joints.

The railways order said that the sites being taken over from IRCTC may follow due process of coordination and take into consideration the terms and conditions of existing contracts/agreements.

Food Unit Allotment Through Open Tenders

For a period of nine years, the food units will be allotted through open tender process and the minimum reserve price for tendering will also be fixed in line with the Catering Policy 2017.

The railway order noted that in accordance with the above, the zonal railways are advised to take necessary action.

As many as 100-150 such static units are planned to be set up by the zonal railways, reported PTI. Adding that the a review of the policy is currently underway, the report said that due to 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, IRCTC has been unable to set up these food courts.