Rail board to hike meal prices on Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto trains
New Delhi: After reviewing the food quality and catering service in premium trains e.g. Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto, the Rail board decided to revise the tariff of meals of the AC coaches. The revised catering tariff shall be effective from March 29, 2020, a government communiqué said on Friday.
The revised tariff applies to the pre-paid meals. Hence, the impact on the total ticket fares of the pre-paid trains will be an increase in the range of 3 per cent to 9 per cent for passengers who opt for meals.
Catering services in trains are provided by IRCTC in two categories – pre-paid services in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains where catering charges are included in the ticket fare (on an opt-in basis) and postpaid catering services like on other Mail or Express where standard meals and other food items are made available on sale.
According to the new order, in first-class AC and executive class, tea will cost Rs 35, up by Rs 6, breakfast Rs 140, up by Rs 7, lunch and dinner Rs 245, up by Rs 15. In second class AC, third class AC and chair car, tea to cost Rs 20, up by Rs 5, breakfast Rs 105, up by Rs 8, lunch and dinner Rs 185, up by Rs 10. However, the ministry assured that the janta-meal's tariff has been kept unchanged.
The last tariff revision of the three trains was done in 2013, where the tariff of standard meals for Mail and Express trains were revised in 2012.
"Taking note of the need to further improve the variety, hygiene and quality of food for its passengers, Indian Railways has rationalized the Menus and revised the Tariff for
catering services," the ministry said.
Importantly, the rail board further dropped a-la-carte for sale on Mail or Express trains. Only snacks items like samosa, pakoda, etc. will be permitted in a la carte service for sale. Besides, more regional food variety will be available for the passengers. Snack meal with regional flavor is being introduced at the rate of Rs. 50/- as a meal variety.
This would be of 350 grams portion and the menu will be decided by IRCTC. Biryani will also be offered as a standard meal variety because of its popularity in three types – vegetarian, egg and chicken at the respective rates of Rs. 80/-, 90/- and 110/-.
IRCTC also to add chicken curry as an option in the standard non-vegetarian meal along with egg curry.
There will now be three categories of standard meals viz., a standard vegetarian meal, standard non-vegetarian meal (with 2 eggs curry) and standard non-vegetarian meal with chicken curry.
The detailed menu is available on IR's website and can be accessed through http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/traffic_comm/CC-2019/CC_60 of 2019.pdf.
