Passengers traveling in unreserved compartments will now have access to hygienic meals and snacks at reasonable prices, thanks to a new initiative by the Indian Railways, as per an official statement, PTI reported. These meal counters are currently set up at over 100 stations and nearly 150 counters across the Indian Railways network, with plans for further expansion.
As per Indian Railways official, before implementing this, the meal counters had already been operated successfully on a pilot basis at around 51 stations. Expanding the success story, Railways has extended this program, with counters now functional at more than 100 stations and nearly 150 counters in total. Railways is planning to set up this initiative on more stations soon.
Will this service be available to all the passengers?
Indian Railways has introduced this service specially for general class passengers. The official mentioned as PTI quoted, “Indian Railways, in collaboration with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), is taking steps to cater to passengers, especially those in unreserved coaches, by offering hygienic meals and snacks at affordable rates.”
“We are expecting an upsurge in passenger numbers during the summer season and understand the problems faced by those traveling in unreserved compartments, who may not always have access to convenient and pocket-friendly meal options’’, official added. To ensure easy access, these meal counters have been located near general second-class (GS) coaches on platforms.
How much will the affordable meal cost?
The meals are available in two varieties for passengers, an economy meal priced at Rs 20 and a snack meal which is priced at Rs 50. Passengers can purchase refreshments directly from these counters, eliminating the need to search for vendors or step outside the station, the official explained.
