I had high expectations regarding the quality of food served in trains. My hopes were also high as Suresh Prabhu took over the as union minister for railways.
But my hopes dashed when I saw inferior quality food being served on my trip to shiridi.
Later I also read reports of adverse observations by CAG. Railway teams and CAG inspected 74 railway stations and 80 trains. Their joint report states that the food being served is unfit for human consumption. We all are very well aware that the railways as such is India'slife line for more than 8.6 billion passengers every year. We all are aware that corruption in awarding the contracts to private players for food supply and callousness of officials are responsible for the poor quality of services. Successive Railway Ministers, have traditionally focussed on populist measures while basic issues of passenger amenities cleanliness,and quality food, have been neglected over the years.
.IRCTC manages catering services but it doesn't cook or supply food that is served to passengers. This is done by private firms which run on contacts after having got in an open tender.
But my hopes dashed when I saw inferior quality food being served on my trip to shiridi.
Later I also read reports of adverse observations by CAG. Railway teams and CAG inspected 74 railway stations and 80 trains. Their joint report states that the food being served is unfit for human consumption. We all are very well aware that the railways as such is India'slife line for more than 8.6 billion passengers every year. We all are aware that corruption in awarding the contracts to private players for food supply and callousness of officials are responsible for the poor quality of services. Successive Railway Ministers, have traditionally focussed on populist measures while basic issues of passenger amenities cleanliness,and quality food, have been neglected over the years.
.IRCTC manages catering services but it doesn't cook or supply food that is served to passengers. This is done by private firms which run on contacts after having got in an open tender.
Railways have improved its efficiency in certain areas in the last few years. It has attracted massive investments ,undertaken projects with private participation and made efforts to reduce the cost of transportation affordable. However safety, hygiene, Quality food, and punctuality are of primary importance.
One of my cousins who was very senior officer retired from Railways told me that the same set of contractors would manage to get the contracts every year. But Suresh Prabhu known for his dynamism and no-nonsense approach tried to break this contractor nexus, by encouraging E-catering business but it is yet to take the shape fully. But I feel travelers safety, hygiene, quality food, and punctuality of trains, are the issues the Minister is expected to keep a watch.
