If it was litti chokha for Laloo Prasad, it is puri and sabzi for railway minister Mamata Banerjee. Recognising the need for affordable desi delicacies at railway stations, Bannerjee has directed to open puri and sabzi stalls at all stations across the country.
“I have received complaints from passengers about expensive food at stations. What we need is ‘janata khana’ for them,” said Bannerjee. “Puri-sabzi is a popular dish and we will soon have stalls at every station selling it,” she said.
Mamata, who has harped upon the human face of the railways, along with its commercial interests, has also promised good food on trains, besides drinking water facilities at all railway stations. “Quality of food served in trains has deteriorated over time. It has happened even in the Rajdhani Express. We have to restore the standard,” she said.
A senior railway official said Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will sell puri-sabzi from its counters.
“We have not yet finalised the prices, but it will be definitely affordable,” he added.
Present at Howrah station to inaugurate the Kandari Express, plying daily between Howrah and Digha daily, the railway minister said, “People are not getting services from facilities like tatkal. We will have to restore that too.”
Meanwhile, IRCTC is busy with a new package for Digha and is likely to have one on the lines of the Buddhist circuit. “Digha has the potential to be developed on the lines of Goa. We will make every effort to see that it happens soon,? said Banerjee.
