New Delhi : Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has set the deadline of maximum four months to give choice to the passengers on Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains to pay for food or not while booking the journey tickets, a choice the fliers already get on the low-cost airlines.
At present, meals and snacks in these trains are given as part of the ticket package and all that the travellers need to choose while making reservations is whether they want vegetarian or non-vegetarian food. Prabhu had made the intent known on February 25 while presenting the railway budget in Parliament when he said “we are exploring the possibility of making mandatory catering services optional in trains.”
Officials in the catering division of the Railways said they are also working on his declaration to provide “Local cuisine of choice” to the passengers.
They said the change may come in less than two months, though the minister has allowed four months to ensure new arrangement so that the passengers not paying for food in advance do not go hungry. Once implemented, those who decline food can pay Rs 150-200 less for their tickets. They would have the option to buy food from outside through e-catering or carry their own meals or buy from a pantry if they want to.
Also read: Highlights of Rail Budget 2016
Prabhu says the idea of giving more choice to passengers came from complaints about the quality of food served and the grouse that they are forced to pay for the food whether they want it or not.
