PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, April 24: Good news for budget-conscious travellers!
Indian Railways jointly with Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is stepping up to serve passengers, particularly those in unreserved coaches, with a new initiative offering hygienic meals and snacks at affordable prices.
This program anticipates the surge in passenger traffic during the summer months.
Indian Railways recognizes the challenges faced by those travelling in unreserved compartments (General Class Coaches), who may not always have access to convenient and budget-friendly meal options.
Economy meals and Snack meals
The initiative offers a two-pronged approach – Economy Meals – priced at a pocket-friendly Rs. 20/-, these meals provide a satisfying and affordable option for passengers on the go.
Snack Meals: – For those seeking a lighter bite, Rs. 50/- snack meals are also available.
In addition to provision of economy meals at five stations, packed meals as well as snack meals are sold through the counters over South Eastern Railway (SER) jurisdiction.
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Railneer and 32 water vending machines
Moreover, Shalimar, Santragachi, Kharagpur, Baleshwar, Tatanagar, Rourkela, Jharsuguda and Ranchi stations have been selected as mandatory Railneer stations under SER.
A close watch is kept on the supply of Railneer at all stations and trains to check the availability of packaged drinking water.
For the convenience of passengers, a total of 32 water vending machines are available over SER.
To ensure easy access, these meals and water will be available at counters conveniently located near general second-class (GS) coaches on platforms.
Passengers can buy their refreshments directly from these counters, eliminating the need to search for vendors or venture outside the station.
Around 150 counters at over 100 stations
This service was successfully piloted at about 51 stations last year. Building on that success, the railways has significantly expanded the program, with counters now operational at over 100 stations and nearly 150 counters in total.
The initiative is slated for further growth, encompassing even more stations in the near future. This program offers a significant benefit for passengers, particularly those travelling in general class coaches. The readily available, affordable meals and snacks ensure travelers can stay comfortable throughout their journeys.
To ensure easy access, these meals will be available at counters conveniently located near general second-class (GS) coaches on platforms.
These meal counters are now operational at over 100 stations and nearly 150 counters in total across Indian Railways
Economy meals are available at Kharagpur, Baleshwar, Hijli, Muri and Rourkela stations under the jurisdiction of South Eastern Railway.
