Question : CATERING IN GARIB RATH TRAINS

(a) whether the responsibility of catering arrangement and its monitoring is with the Railways or with any other private institutions;

(b) the details thereof;

(c) whether the Railways are aware that the passengers do not get fresh/hot meals in Garib Rath trains which run between Delhi and Mumbai and other cities;

(d) if so, the details and the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken by the Railways to provide fresh and quality foods in Garib Rath trains and for ensuring the cleanliness of trains?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2857 BY SHRIMATI BHAVANA GAWALI PATIL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.08.2011 REGARDING CATERING IN GARIB RATH TRAINS

(a) and (b): As per New Catering Policy issued on 21st July, 2010 responsibility of catering management and its monitoring mainly lies with the Railways. Few Premium catering services such as Food Plaza/Food Courts/Fast food Units etc. are with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which is a Public Service Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Railways.

(c) to (e): Railways endeavours to provide fresh/hot catering services to passengers in Garib Rath trains through Train Side Vending (TSV) and from Static Units at enroute stations, as far as possible. There is no provision of pantry cars in these trains as the service of meal is optional.

With a view to provide quality food on trains, the New Catering Policy has been issued which gives emphasis to improvement of services through a quality assurance programme which provides for strict supervision and monitoring.

All the coach toilets of a train are intensively cleaned during the scheduled maintenance in the depots before journey. Mechanized cleaning attention is also provided to identified trains during their scheduled stoppage at nominated en-route ‘Clean Train Stations’ with focus on cleaning and disinfecting of toilets along with doorways and aisles. In addition Cleaning of coach toilets doorways, aisles and compartments is also carried out in reserved coaches, while on run under the ‘On Board House Keeping’ scheme on nominated trains.