(a) whether the Railways has decided to restart cooked meal in trains, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Railway Board has asked the zonal railways to verify catering and other charges;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Railways also proposes to provide bed rolls in trains; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a): Ministry of Railways have issued instructions on 19.11.2021 to resume the services of cooked food in trains. The service of Ready To Eat meals will also continue.
(b) and (c): Yes, Sir. Verification of catering charges was to be done as a onetime measure for feeding catering charges in Passenger Reservation System for the trains having prepaid catering service. This is a standard protocol being followed and these instructions are being complied by Zonal Railways.
(d) and (e): As a part of passenger amenities linen/ blankets/ curtains are provided in AC coaches of Indian Railways. However, with the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, as precautionary measures, linen/ blankets/ curtains were discontinued inside the trains. In terms of letter no. TC-II/2910/2020/SOP-Rail-Covid 19 dated 10.03.2022, instructions for discontinuation of linen/ curtains have been withdrawn. Action has been initiated by Zonal Railways to start linen/ curtain at the earliest.
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