The Ministry of Railways has now empowered the general managers (GMs) of all 17 zones, apart from the IRCTC, to use vacant commercial spaces for the establishment of food plazas or other food units, in an effort to increase the number of food plazas, fast-food units, and multi-cuisine restaurants at railway stations.
In addition to the more than 300 food plazas and other units that are already operational, the railways at the zone level will be allowed to put up more than 100 static food plazas and fast-food units at different railway stations as a result of this order.
Officials familiar with the project claim that the railways have not taken the right from the IRCTC to put up food plazas. The railway has only provided clearance to all zones, as well as IRCTC, for the establishment of food plazas at sites that have been empty for at least a year.
"The Food Plazas, fast-food units, and multi-cuisine restaurants will be allotted through an open tender process for a period of nine years as stipulated within the catering policy 2017 by the zone at vacant space not still being utilised by IRCTC," a senior railway official said, adding that IRCTC had floated the tenders previously but no bidder responded due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which had badly impacted railway services.
When contacted, IRCTC spokesperson Anand K Jha stated that IRCTC is already planning to open more than 75 food plazas in the next months. "All statutory paperwork are being completed on a priority basis for the establishment of over 75 additional food outlets," Jha added, noting that more than 300 Food Plazas are currently operational across the nation.
