Rail passengers do not need to worry about food services despite the ongoing gas shortage.
Indian Railways has taken special steps to make sure passengers continue to receive snacks and meals during their journey.
To handle the situation, the Railway Board has allowed food to be prepared inside pantry cars using induction stoves, which means cooking can be done without an open flame.
Pantry Cars Can Now Use Flameless Cooking
The railway authorities have permitted vendors from Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to prepare snacks and meals in pantry cars using induction stoves.
Earlier, cooking food in pantry cars was restricted due to safety concerns.
Normally, pantry cars are only used to heat food, tea, and water that is prepared in base kitchens.
With the new permission, vendors can prepare limited food items directly in the train using flameless cooking.
This step has been taken to ensure passengers continue receiving meals even during the LPG shortage.
Food Usually Comes From Base Kitchens
In normal situations, breakfast and meals served on trains are prepared in IRCTC base kitchens.
The food is then loaded onto trains at major stations such as Gorakhpur, Gonda, Lucknow, and Varanasi.
However, due to the shortage of LPG cylinders, many of these kitchens are facing difficulties in preparing food.
This created a risk of disruption in catering services on trains.
To avoid inconvenience to passengers, the Railway Board issued new guidelines on March 12.
Deputy Director (Catering) A. Rangarajan instructed railway officials and IRCTC to ensure catering services continue during emergencies while following strict safety protocols.
Rail Neer and Drinking Water Will Continue
Passengers will continue to receive packaged drinking water on trains and at stations.
Rail Neer will remain available across railway stations.
Zonal railway authorities have been directed to ensure adequate supply of Rail Neer.
If there is any shortage, other approved brands of packaged drinking water can also be provided to passengers.
Railways will also provide necessary power support for tourist circuit trains at important halts to ensure services for tourists are not disrupted.
Railway Board Requests LPG Supply
The Chairman of the Railway Board, Satish Kumar, has written to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas requesting adequate LPG supply for IRCTC kitchens.
The letter highlighted that LPG is essential for running IRCTC base kitchens, which supply food to passengers both on trains and at railway stations.
The Railway Board has asked that these kitchens be given priority when distributing gas cylinders.
Currently, three IRCTC base kitchens are operating in Gorakhpur, and eleven more are planned for the future.
Ready-to-Eat Meals on Vande Bharat Trains
Passengers traveling on Vande Bharat Express will still receive food services.
Since these trains do not have a full pantry car and instead operate with a mini pantry, IRCTC plans to serve ready-to-eat meals and snacks when food from base kitchens is not available.
The mini pantry stores snacks, tea, meals, and water.
In case of supply issues from base kitchens, ready-to-eat food will be provided to passengers to ensure there is no disruption in onboard catering.
