Railways list new catering policies after CAG slams food quality

Representational picture

New Delhi: Ministry of Railways, on Sunday, highlighted their New Catering Policy with an objective to provide quality food to passengers after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) came out with reports slamming the Railways for serving food which they deemed to be unfit for consumption. The CAG in its report claimed that unpurified water was being used to make beverages, rats and cockroaches were found in the pantry and food was being left out in the open among a number of other things.

Taking to Twitter, the Ministry of Railways took established the fact that the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been mandated to carry out the unbundling by creating a distinction primarily between food preparation and food distribution. The New Catering policy, which was issued on 27 February, also states that IRCTC is responsible for all issues pertaining to setting up and operation of kitchen units and quality of food.

''As per the new catering policy of 2017, the IRCTC will manage the services on all mobile units and pantry car contracts will be reassigned to the railways' catering arm," the ministry said. 

1/ New Catering Policy, 2017 pic.twitter.com/GGCYwccUMM — Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) July 23, 2017

The tweets also mentioned that the fares of all the people opting for food in railways will be varied and will depend on the distance they travel and the bookings they make.

1/ Catering Policy 2017 Excerpts: pic.twitter.com/0WskRhBNXq — Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) July 23, 2017

"IRCTC shall manage catering service on all mobile units. Pantry car contracts awarded by zonal railway shall also be reassigned to IRCTC. Meals for all mobile units will be picked up from the nominated kitchens owned, operated and managed by IRCTC," the Ministry further added.