Railway to set up two water bottling plants near Chennai and Mumbai

New Delhi, Dec 3 (ANI): The Railway Ministry to set up two Rail Neer (water) plants in this fiscal.

In a reply to the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Railways, K H Muniyappa said the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (ICTC) would implement these projects.

"One Rail Neer plant is being set up at Palur near Chennai with capacity of 1,80,000 bottles of one litre each per day at an estimated cost of Rs. 13.45 crore. The plant is expected to be commissioned in 2010,"Muniyappa said.

He also informed the members that another plant is being set up at Ambarnath near Mumbai with capacity of 3,00,000 bottles of one litre each per day at an estimated cost of Rs. 24.00 crore which will be commissioned in 2011.

Answering another question Muniyappa said attachment of new coaches in trains for augmenting the load and on replacement account is an ongoing process subject to operational feasibility, commercial justifications and availability of coaching stock.

"Standards for the meals being served in Rajdhani and Shatabdi and Mail and Express trains have been laid down. Various measures such as inspections, monitoring, passenger satisfaction surveys, etc. through officers, Quality Control Professional (QCPs) and independent professional agencies are undertaken to ensure quality and quantity of food items," he said.

Muniyappa also assured the House that punitive action is also taken against defaulting licensees. (ANI)