IRCTC widens Food on Track, ties up with Food Panda

Further broadening its innovative e-catering facility 'Food on Track', IRCTC has tied up with online delivery firm Food Panda, enabling consumers to order from a variety of cuisine options.

The collaboration, to be launched in New Delhi railway station next month, will provide customers with the choice to order meals at least two hours before the travel, according to Dr. A.K. Manocha, Chairman and Managing Director of IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation), which is a 1999-founded subsidiary of the Railways.

"After the successful roll-out in the capital, the service will be extended to other metros and cities across the country," he revealed, recalling that the IRCTC had recently developed a mobile application of the catering facility that can be used on the Android platform.

The delivery, typically, will be aligned to the arrival time of the train at the station. Consumers can either make advance online payment for the order or make an on-the-spot payment, said IRCTC Director (Catering Services) Robin Kalita.

"In the new age, we have to offer passengers with novel food options," he pointed out. "That makes the tie-up with Food Panda particularly valuable."

Saurabh Kochhar, CEO of Food Panda, described his company as an innovative business model which caters to an important consumer need. "Our association with IRCTC will be an offering which addresses a huge consumer need prevailing for years. For long, consumer had limited food options to choose from while travelling with Indian Railway but newly launched e-catering service by IRCTC is set to change the way Indian's eat while travelling," he noted. "We are excited to begin action with Delhi station by December and are looking forward to extending this offering to other stations."

IRCTC's Food on Track, has KFC, Domino's, Street Foods, Wimpy, TFS, Jan Aahar, Ratna Cafe, Mio Amore, Alibaba, Cafe Lite, Hello Curry and Ratna Cafe besides IRCTC Food Plaza and IRCTC Fast Food Units under its umbrella.

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.