Lalu asks IRCTC chief to proceed on leave

New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) Irked over persistent reports of poor quality and unhygienic food being served on trains, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has sent Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) CMD P K Goel on ''long leave till further orders''.

An IRCTC official confirmed that Dr Goel had been asked to proceed on long leave and also indicated that all the plans of the Corporation to build budget hotels on railway land might be put on hold.

Delhi High Court has also pulled up IRCTC for its failure to improve the quality and hygiene of food being served in trains.

The official pointed out that IRCTC was recently forced to terminate a contract with a private party after a TV channel showed the caterer transporting food items in the lavatory of the Patna-Delhi Garib Rath.

''Dr Goel has been asked to proceed on leave and a new officer may replace him,'' the official said, preferring anonymity.

Meanwhile, CD-roms of some 40 computer terminals installed in the IRCTC head office at Parliament Street were burgled today, the official said.

''It is quite intriguing that only CD roms were burgled,'' the official said, adding that a complaint has been lodged with the Parliament Street police station.

UNI