IRCTC to introduce e-catering facility at 45 stations

Passengers can order food of their choice from leading private caterers to be delivered at these stations

Broadening the ambit of its popular e-catering operations, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will launch 'station-based' e-catering service at 45 stations, which will allow travelling passengers to order food of their choice from leading private caterers to be delivered at these stations.

The new facility, to be introduced in a phased manner, will be only at stations and not on moving trains.

Besides e-catering, IRCTC makes available meals supplied by 'Jan Ahaar' (budget food), Food Plazas and Fast Food Units.

The e-catering facility allows passengers to order meals while travelling, either online at www.ecatering.irctc.co.in or by making a phone call to 0120-2383892-99 or the toll-free number at 1800-1034-139. They can also choose to do so through an SMS to 139 by giving details of their PNR and seat number.

To popularize the e-catering facility at stations, IRCTC will also develop mobile-based applications.

The station-based e-catering facility would be available for all trains passing through the 45 stations: Howrah, New Delhi, Chennai Central, Mumbai Central, Delhi, Bangalore City, Patna, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Madurai, Amritsar, Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kanpur Central, Allahabad, Chandigarh, Gorakhpur, Sealdah, Guwahati, New Jalpaiguri, Vishakhapatnam, Mughalsarai, Varanasi, Jaipur, Bilaspur, Kharagpur, Anand Vihar, H. Nizamuddin, Ludhiana, Secunderabad, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Chennai Egmore, Ernakulam [Kochi], Kozhikode, Thrisur, Yasvantpur, Nagpur, Pune, Agra Cantt, Gwalior, Jhansi, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara.

For the first time since its launch in September last year, e-catering facility is being introduced at stations. As of now, this facility is being provided in 1,516 non-pantry car trains.

IRCTC will soon float Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to ensure participation of experienced professionals and reputed food chains like KFC, McDonald, Haldiram, Bikanerwala, Nirulas, Sagar Ratna, Wangs Kitchen, Saravana Bhavan, Subway, Domino's, Pizza Hut and Kelloggs.

A minimum of five vendors/brands per station will be shortlisted/empanelled by IRCTC to ensure availability of a wide variety of choices at the stations.

The new facility has been launched in accordance with this year's Railway Budget announcement for the progressive launch of e-catering service.

The facility will be extended to more stations depending on the responses received, a press release said.