Train Foodto Became Expensive Soon? Know Here

Train Food: The war between Iran and Israel shows no sign of stopping. Meanwhile, the impact of this war is being felt across the world, including India. Prices of all goods are soaring sky-high. Common people are struggling with the additional costs of petrol, diesel, and LPG. At the same time, it seems that the effects of this global crisis are about to be felt in Indian Railways as well.

Railway caterers have brought this issue to light

The Indian Railway Mobile Caterers Association (IRMCA) represents contractors who provide catering services on trains. Sharan Bihari Agarwal, the president of this association, is said to own the RK Business Group. Experts indicate that this group manages pantry services for about 70 percent of the railway’s premium trains (Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat Express) and key trains in Cluster A. Recently, a letter signed by him was sent to the Director of Catering Services (DCS) at the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

What are the requests?

The letter from the Indian Railway Mobile Caterers Association mentions that IRCTC established the prices for pantry car food and drinks back in 2019. Since then, these prices have risen by as much as 250%. Additionally, staff salaries have also gone up. Therefore, they believe that food and beverage prices should be adjusted accordingly to ensure the quality of offerings.

What will the impact be?

Pantry services on Indian Railways trains are provided in two formats: pre-paid and post-paid. On premium trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat, passengers pay in advance, which is why the food and beverages on these trains are categorized as pre-paid. Conversely, on other trains, passengers pay after acquiring the items, thus they are referred to as post-paid. This organization has requested an immediate increase in the prices of both categories of food and beverages.

If the theory of 250 percent increase in the prices of goods is accepted, then this much burden will definitely increase on the passengers.

What are the provisions in railway tenders?

Railway experts say that the tender for pantry cars on trains is based on a “fixed rate supply.” Regardless of the tender period, prices cannot be increased during the contract period. This clause does not mention any rate increases during the contract period. This means that a company must work at the same rate for the period for which it won the tender. No contractor can pressure a price increase mid-term. If the railway revises rates, it will only apply to tenders held after that date. The old rate will apply in the old tender.