IRCTC to build network of base kitchen stations

Bangalore, Dec 21 (UNI) The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a subsidiary of Indian Railways, proposes to have a network of over 80 base kitchen stations on the lines of airline base kitchens to prepare thousands of meals everyday for rail passengers.

Talking to newspersons here, IRCTC Regional Director V Sriram said the move was being taken following widespread complaints from the travelling public about lack of quality and hygiene in the food served by the pantry cars. At the base kitchen stations, food would be prepared, packaged in a most systematic manner and loaded on to trains. The South Western Railways would have its base kitchen stations in Bangalore, Mysore and Hubli. Among the 900-odd pantry cars, over one third operated in trains originating from the four Southern States, he added.

He said the IRCTC had major plans to improve passenger amenities and undertake projects in SWR, including Budget hotels, catering stalls, food plazas and fast food centres.

On 'Rail Ratna' budget hotels, Mr Sriram said the IRCTC had submitted three alternate locations to the Bangalore division of SWR to set up the prestigious project near Bangalore City railway station. The project would also be taken up in 15 other approved sites in South India such as Rameshwaram, Madurai, Udhagamandalam and Kanniyakumari. Besides, budget hotels would also be built in Bangalore Cantonment, Mysore and Bellary by 2007-08.

He said all 'A' and 'B' class stations were slated to have Automatic Vending Machines by October 2007. The IRCTC planned to open modern food plazas and fast food centres at Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore Cantonment, Hosur, Bangarpet, Tumkur and Yeshwantpur in the Bangalore division and Mysore, Hubli, Davanagere, Bellary, Gadag, Hospet, Belgaum, Hassan, Shimoga, Dharwad, Vasco-dagama, Bijapur and Londa in Mysore and Hubli divisions by November 2007.

He said the IRCTC would open its regional office in the city shortly to facilitate and coordinate all the proposed projects.

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