(a) the criteria for providing the facility of pantry car in trains;
(b) whether pantry car facilities have been increased in several trains in the last few years;
(c) whether the Government proposes to provide the facility of pantry car in the trains running from Gorakhpur to Hisar and Hisar to Gorakhpur (Train no. 12555 and 12556 respectively); and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a): Attachment of pantry car in any train is based on factors such as availability of pantry cars, order of priority with respect to category of train viz. Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto/Mail/Express trains etc, load limitation and journey time of the train.
Provision of catering services to passengers of trains running without pantry is made through Train Side Vending and static units at enroute stations. In addition, passengers travelling in trains have the facility to order food of their choice through e-Catering services which are available at major stations en-route.
(b): Yes, Sir. Pantry Car/ Mini Pantry facilities have progressively increased from 380 pairs of trains during 2017-18 to 419 pairs of trains during 2019-20.
(c) and (d): Operation of trains running from Gorakhpur to Hisar and Hisar to Gorakhpur (Train no. 12555 and 12556 respectively) is suspended since imposition of lockdown due to Covid-19. However, catering services in special train no. 02555 and 02556 (Hisar-Gorakhpur-Hisar) is provided through Train Side Vending, static units at enroute stations and e-Catering services.
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