(a) the initiatives taken to serve nutritious, hygienic and easily digestible food items like fruit, leafy vegetables, etc. instead of currently served spicy and oily food; and
(b) the steps taken to provide safe drinking water to passengers according to guidelines of WHO?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a): It is the endeavour of Indian Railways to provide nutritious and hygienic food in trains keeping in view of the general food habits of the travelling public. In addition to standard catering items, a list of a-la-carte items has also been provided which includes nutritious, hygienic and easily digestible food items such as light meals, milk products, diabetic items, local cuisine etc. Passengers have option to order items of their choice out of the a-la-carte list or through e-catering facility.
IRCTC has also introduced new meals in select pre-paid trains, based on rationalization of menu to ensure that hygiene and quality is maintained at highest level. Further, fruit stalls and milk stalls are also available at stations.
(b): With the objective to provide packaged drinking water of prescribed standard, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has been manufacturing Rail Neer which is mandatorily supplied at notified stations and trains. Further, IRCTC has also installed around 2000 nos. of Water Vending Machines over approximately 700 Railway stations across the Indian Railways network at A-1, A, B & C category stations. It is ensured that pure, clean and hygienic water as per the specifications laid down in IS 10500L:2012 is served to Railway passengers at affordable cost.
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