(a) whether the Government have decided to privatise the
catering services at railway stations and in trains;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons
therefor; and
(c) the steps proposed to be taken to ensure reasonable
prices as well as better and efficient services by private
caterers?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS ( KUMARI MAMATA BANERJEE )
(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the
Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF
STARRED QUESTION NO. 351 BY SHRI JAIBHAN SINGH PAWAIYA TO BE
ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 17.08.2000 REGARDING PRIVATISATION
OF CATERING SERVICES.
(a) to (c) The existing catering policy, which was
formulated in the year 1992, called for privatisation of
certain activities including catering services on Indian
Railways. The policy lays emphasis on induction of
professional caterers of repute and having required
expertise to ensure proper quality of catering services to
the passengers. At present, private licensees are
managing catering services on 3050 railway stations and in
124 pairs of trains. In addition to this, railways manage
the catering services departmentally at 68 railway stations
and in 49 pairs of trains. Besides, catering services are
managed both by departmental units and licensees at 32
railway stations.
The catering licensees are governed under an agreement
which defines the terms and conditions of the
responsibilities and duties of the licensees and also the
system of monitoring of their services. Licensees sell the
items on the rates prescribed by railways. In order to
maintain the standard of services to the customers, railways
have prescribed the scale of services in case of both mobile
and static catering units as well as the use of standard
packing material and improved presentation. Regular checks
are exercised at various levels besides taking passengers
opinion polls from time to time. Menu boards, containing
rates and quantity of food items, are displayed in
refreshment rooms, stalls and in pantry cars. Menu cards
are also available with the bearers in trains. Detailed
information on railway catering including rates of catering
items is also published in public timetable for the
information of rail users.