‘Meals on Wheels’ service may soon go off track in AC coaches

In a move aimed at clipping the ‘expanding’ wings of food caterers, the Ministry of Railways is mulling to restrict the services of ‘Meals on the Wheels’ to sleeper class only. Passengers travelling in premium trains and AC class of all trains would be provided food of their choice through e-catering.

According to sources, Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu will make a formal announcement about it in the upcoming Rail Budget, scheduled to be presented in Parliament on February 26. 

The move comes in the light of several complaints against the supply of poor quality food by the Railway’s lone caterer –Meals on the Wheels, which is owned by Rajiv Mittal.

Comesum Group, the brainchild of RK Associates and Brandavan Food Product owned by Rajiv Mittal and his cousins — Rahul Agrawal and Abhishek Agrawal, has “managed” to control the catering system of all premium trains for the past 10 years.

“It is just the beginning. The ministry’s objective is to provide quality food to passengers as train is a moving home for millions of commuters.

“Only 1-3 per cent passengers travelling in premium trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duranto. They will get their food through e-caterers registered with the IRCTC,” a source said, adding that e-catering services can also be availed by passengers travelling in sleeper classes.

“As we get a lot of complaints about sub-standard foods being supplied in AC coaches, the e-catering service would help those passengers to have a meal of their choice. So, the ministry has proposed to ban catering services in all AC coaches and stress on use of e-catering services,” the official said, adding that after its success, it would be implemented in sleeper coaches too.