Train food cost hiked for quality, variety

KOLKATA: Passengers will now have to pay more for meals served on mail and express trains. Those planning trips on Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Durontos on or after March 29, 2020, will also have to pay more for tickets as the meal component will go up. According to the Railway Board, the revision of rates became essential due to increase in cost of ingredients and overheads.The increase will help improve variety, hygiene and quality of food, the Board said. While Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto meal charges are being revised after six years, those for other mail and express trains have gone up for the first time since 2012.
The food component in First AC Rajdhani or Duronto fares will go up to Rs 560 (including GST) from the current Rs 350 and AC-II tier and AC-III tier passengers will have to pay Rs 400 (including GST) for their meals instead of Rs 300. Those travelling by sleeper class in Duronto will have to pay Rs 250 from March 29, 2020. However, passengers of these trains may choose not to avail of on-board catering after the rates are hiked.
For other mail and express trains, passengers have started paying Rs 40 for a vegetarian breakfast and Rs 50 for a non-vegetarian one. A standard vegetarian meal now costs Rs 80 while a non-vegetarian one with two eggs comes for Rs 90. A welcome change is that those opting for standard non-vegetarian meals can now opt for chicken curry instead of egg curry, but they will be charged Rs 130. The rate of Janta meals, however, will remain unchanged at Rs 20 and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will continue to serve them on trains.
“Owing to its popularity, a decision has also been taken to offer Biryani as a standard meal option. While vegetable biryani will cost Rs 80, the egg and chicken varieties will cost Rs 90 and Rs 110 respectively. It has also been decided to introduce a ‘snack meal’ comprising regional delicacies, weighing 350g, which will cost Rs 50. No a la carte meals will be served, but snacks like samosas and pakoras prepared in pantry cars may be sold,” a senior railway official said.
Over the past several years, several complaints regarding the quality of food served on trains have been lodged by passengers. On the other hand, private caterers said it is not possible for them to serve quality food at the rates offered by IRCTC.