Foodies, may we have your attention please!
After the successful introduction of e-catering service to 45 stations in September last year (trial basis), IRCTC is all set to extend the same service to 408 stations so passengers have more food choices. No more hassle of taking home cooked-food now.
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This new catering policy would be helpful as it will take over the previous policy introduced by Mamata Banerjee in 2010(then Railway Minister). Also, the new facility has been introduced in tandem with the Railway Budget 2016. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this facility is in conformity with Prime Minister’s vision of “Digital India”.
The idea is to introduce self-help groups to passengers from where they can order food and gradually phase out pantry cars from trains as it is quite a task to maintain them. All self-help groups with their prices and menus will be displayed on IRCTC website so it’s easy for a passenger to order a meal and choose a food time offered by these groups.
Expanding the e-catering service facility will allow passengers to order their favourite food from leading private caterers. A passenger cannot make use of this facility on a moving train but only at a station.
4 ways for ordering food at stations:
- Dial 1323 and opt for COD (cash on delivery).
- Download the “Food on Track” App and order your food. You can either opt for either COD or advance payment depending on your convenience.
- Go on IRCTC’s e-catering website and order your food. Same mode of payment as in #2.
- SMS to 139 and provide details such as seat and PNR number.
It’s interesting to know that IRCTC has collaborated with major private caterers including Travelkhana, KFC, Domino’s, Sagar Ratna, Haldiram’s, McDonald, Pizza Hut, Saravana Bhavan, Bikanervala, Nirulas and Street Foods. Besides the e-catering service, passengers will also be able to order food from IRCTC’s own “jan aahar”, fast food units and food plazas.
