Passengers can now order food from McDonald's, Domino's during train journeys

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has joined hands with online food delivery platform Swiggy to deliver food at Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada railway stations. 

The service is to begin from March 12, adding 59 other stations in next six months.

IRCTC is already in partnership with Zomato for food delivery across 63 stations on Indian Railways network.

“This partnership with Swiggy will bring more convenience and food options to our passengers, making their journeys more memorable,” shared Sanjay Kumar Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, IRCTC.

According to IRCTC, passengers travelling in reserved coaches can order food from Swiggy. The unreserved passengers have been excluded from this service as it requires a PNR number.

Passengers have to put PNR on the IRCTC app, then select the preferred station for food delivery, browse the list of restaurants on Swiggy, and choose a restaurant that is delivering at the specified location and time. The charges will be normal and competitive, mentioned Swiggy.

The food delivered to passengers will be packed in insulated Swiggy bags to keep the meal warm and fresh. Swiggy’s delivery partner would reach the selected platform minutes before delivery, hand over the food to the customer and mark the food delivered.

“The Indian Railways transports more than 8 billion passengers annually. If, during these rail journeys, which traverse across states and districts, one has the option to order meals to explore the culinary diversity of India, it would make the experience more convenient and enjoyable, and add to the overall vividness of the train travel,” added Rohit Kapoor, CEO, Food Marketplace, Swiggy.

Swiggy’s support agents will be trained in resolution process and cancellation policies as well.
 

Changing the way food is consumed during train travel, EatSure today announced order food on train facility on its app, where customers can order food from multiple restaurants and get it delivered to their seats using their PNR numbers while travelling on the Indian Railway Network. 

The food ordering feature will be available on 100 railway stations across 75+ cities including Hyderabad, New Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Nasik, NCR, Vizag, Faridabad, Vijayawada, Mangalore, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Mysore, and more. 

With this one of its kind association, EatSure, also popularly known for its foodcourt on an app experience, becomes the first foodtech platform to partner with IRCTC to transform the food ordering experience for train travellers. EatSure will allow travellers to order from multiple brands in a single order without compromising on what to eat while travelling. 

“We are truly honoured and humbled to embark on this proud partnership with IRCTC, expanding our reach to serve an even larger number of passengers across 100 railway stations through the EatSure app. Over the past four years, we have diligently worked alongside IRCTC, emerging as a leading partner in the e-catering category. Initially, we were fulfilling orders received from the IRCTC app and website independently,” shared Sagar Kochhar, Co-Founder, Rebel Foods.

IRCTC, with over 7.5 crore active travellers will be able to offer iconic brands for its travellers including Behrouz Biryani, Faasos, Oven Story Pizza, Sweet Truth, LunchBox, The Good Bowl, and many more. Using the EatSure app, travellers will be able to order their favourite dishes across multiple brands as per their mood or occasion in trains and get them delivered directly to their seats. 

In addition to its brand offerings, EatSure will continue to serve individual and group travellers. The company will also enhance travellers' experience by targeting festivals and celebrations such as special vegetarian and Satvik thalis during the periods of Shravan and Navratri, delivering cakes for birthdays and anniversaries, and similar events. 

With real-time order tracking, multi-brand ordering, customer support, and other features, passengers can place their orders in advance or just one hour before the upcoming station using their PNR numbers. To seamlessly integrate with IRCTC, EatSure riders hold valid passes issued by IRCTC zonal offices, enabling seamless commercial activity at the stations and allowing them to deliver the order within the train arrival time. 

"Our vision is not only to enhance the entire travel experience but also to address the longstanding challenges of food ordering during long-distance train journeys. Currently, while serving passengers on trains via the IRCTC app, we have garnered immense customer appreciation and love across every corner of India. This strong customer support fuels our confidence in the potential of our partnership, and we remain committed to constantly exploring innovative ways to serve our customers with extraordinary experiences" he added.

The world's largest internet restaurant company, Rebel Foods launched EatSure in 2020 with a vision to solve customers problems while ordering food. With its unique features such as multiple restaurants delivered in a single order, free deliveries and dishes, etc. the app has reached 10 Million+ downloads with 4.3+ ratings. EatSure has reinvigorated the ordering experience through the ‘Foodcourt on an App’ philosophy and is currently serving customers across 80+ cities in India. 

Godrej Yummiez, a frozen ready-to-cook product brand under Godrej Tyson Foods Limited (GTFL), has partnered with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to introduce millet patties on passenger trains.

Launched earlier this year, the Godrej Yummiez Millet Patty has received a response from households, with people appreciating its nutritious and delicious qualities, crafted from millets such as Jowar (Sorghum) and Bajra (Pearl Millet).

The collaboration between Godrej Yummiez and IRCTC has led to the inclusion of millet patties as part of the breakfast menu on Rajdhani and August Kranti trains traveling between Mumbai and Delhi, enhancing the millet patty's availability to passengers.

Godrej Yummiez introduced the millet patty as a creative snack choice. These snacks are crafted using Individual Quick Freeze (IQF) technology, ensuring their freshness without the need for preservatives.

Combining the nutritional benefits of millets, including their high fiber content and vitamins, with a blend of herbs and spices, these patties offer a flavorful and nutritious snacking option.

“Till recently, the adoption of millets was low due to the perception that they are not tasty and are not easy to cook. This has changed drastically and now every household is embracing the goodness of millets. We supported this adoption by bringing together the nutrition of millets in a ready-to-cook convenient format and launching them in a mass accepted ‘patty’ variant. Godrej Yummiez Millet Patty is a preservative-free snack that symbolizes our commitment to innovation, nutrition, and convenience.” said, Abhay Parnerkar, CEO, Godrej Tyson Foods Limited.

He went on to say, "We are delighted to expand the availability of the delicious Godrej Yummiez millet patty to passengers traveling on Rajdhani and August Kranti trains. IRCTC is a highly esteemed organization known for its extensive railway catering services nationwide. Our exclusive partnership with IRCTC leverages their vast network and expertise in train catering, combined with Godrej Yummiez's culinary excellence, to create an exceptional millet-based food experience."

Rajdhani and August Kranti trains hold a distinguished place in the Indian railway system, renowned for their outstanding service and memorable culinary offerings.

The collaboration between Godrej Yummiez and IRCTC aims to raise awareness about millets, highlighting their importance even within the extensive railway network.

This partnership has already commenced as a pilot program on the Mumbai – Delhi – Mumbai routes of Rajdhani and August Kranti trains, benefiting a multitude of passengers traveling across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

 “At IRCTC, we always pledge to provide passengers with quality and tasty food spread. Godrej Yummiez Millet patty on Rajdhani and August Kranti trains taken onboard on a pilot basis reinforces IRCTC's dedication to offer passengers interesting and delectable millet-based food options. We are proud to introduce this product as a pilot as it supports the vision of mainstreaming millets through IRCTC’s catering operations across the massive Indian railways’ network. We tried and tested the product before serving it to our passengers. We are anticipating positive acceptance of Godrej Yummiez Millet Patty which is a perfect snack that is nutritious and convenient ready-to-cook item.” said, Rahul Himalian, Group General Manager, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (Western Zone).

Presently, Godrej Yummiez offers a diverse range of over 50 vegetarian and non-vegetarian products.

The Godrej Yummiez Millet Patty is easily accessible in supermarkets and major e-commerce platforms throughout India, priced at Rs. 180 for 370-gram packs.

The Yummiez Millet Patty is a convenient ready-to-cook option. It can be prepared by deep-frying, air-frying, or shallow-frying and served hot.

The supply of cooked food in trains under e-catering services, which were suspended as a measure to contain the spread of COVID-19, will resume soon in the Eastern Railway zone, shared an official.

The e-catering services will be restarted soon at Howrah, Sealdah, Kolkata, Durgapur, Asansol, Malda and Bhagalpur stations under the jurisdiction of the ER, he said.

Also Read: Barcode to be available on train meals to give live kitchen feed

There are plans to add Barddhaman, Bolpur and Jamalpur in the list of stations from where the e-catering services are provided, the ER spokesperson said.

With the resumption of several long-distance and special trains, there was a growing demand to resume the services for supplying "hot, healthy and hygienic food to the passengers in the trains by nominated vendors of IRCTC", he added.

The Railway Board has allowed IRCTC to resume the services at selected stations, he said, adding that this will be provided in strict adherence to the COVID protocols.

May Interest: Passengers can now order food from McDonald's, Domino's during train journeys

Under e-catering, services are provided by a large number of food aggregators empanelled by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Ltd, he said.

The food supply services are also made available from outlets at selected stations, the official added.

The packed food prepared by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for railway passengers will get a barcode soon. This will help the passengers to scan the barcode using their mobile phone for seeing the live footage of the kitchen where it was prepared.

Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways of India, has said that the instructions have been issued to IRCTC to act on the plan.

Goyal said, "My ultimate thought is that each food packet will get a barcode. You can scan the barcode using your phone and can see the kitchen. You can see and decide whether you want to eat the food or not. The food packets will mention the kitchen number and the time and date of packing. If the food is bad, you can file a complaint quoting the kitchen number and other details." 

The catering wing of Indian Railways, IRCTC (The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation)has installed instant pizza vending machine at the Mumbai Central railway station. The automatic vending machine prepares fresh pizzas within five minutes, that too at a reasonable price.

“As a part of catering modernisation step, IRCTC has installed an automatic Pizza Vending Machine at Mumbai Central Railway Station. This machine will dish out hot pizzas in “mechanised” way for commuters visiting the station,” tweeted IRCTC.

This makes Mumbai Central railway station the first-ever to get an instant pizza vending machine in India. The automatic vending machine has been sourced from Yess Pizza, which is also the first restaurant in India to serve instant pizzas out of a vending machine.

The commuters need to insert the money first and then select from the various choices of pizza. Once the order is made, the machine kneads fresh dough and makes a thin crust base. Once the sauce and toppings are added, the pizza, then, is baked inside the machine oven. All these takes just five minutes.

Besides, the consumers can place the order for French fries and ice cream in future too.

इंडियन रेलवे केटरिंग एंड टूरीज्म कॉर्पोरेशन (IRCTC) ने निर्णय लिया है कि वे ज्यादा से ज्यादा नौ जगहों पर जल्द ही ग्रीन फील्ड बेस किचन स्थापित करेंगे। रसोई बनाने के लिए कानपुर, हजरत निजामुद्दीन, हावड़ा, राजेंद्र नगर पटना, सिकंदराबाद, विजयवाड़ा, चेन्नई एग्मोर, अहमदाबाद और रत्नागिरी की जगह चुनी गई हैं।

रेल राज्य मंत्री राजेन गोहेन ने कहा है, 'IRCTC इन जगहों पर ग्रीन फील्ड बेस किचन बनाने की योजना कर रहा है। नया किचन बनाने या पुराने किचन के रेनोवेशन के लिए IRCTC ने 2018-2019 के लिए 15 करोड़ के पूंजीगत व्यय का बजट रखा है।'

ग्राहकों का विश्वास जीतने और स्वच्छता बनाए रखने के लिए IRCTC ने रसोइयों की लाइव स्ट्रीमिंग शुरू कर दी है।

IRCTC ने अहमदाबाद, बालासोर, खड़गपुर, सेदहा, नोएडा, नई दिल्ली (जहां अभी कान चल रहा है), हावड़ा और राजेंद्र नगर पटना में भी आठ बेस किचन लॉन्च किए हैं।

The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has decided to soon establish Green Field Base Kitchens at as many as 9 locations. The locations selected for setting up these kitchens include Kanpur, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Howrah, Rajendra Nagar Patna, Secunderabad, Vijayawada, Chennai Egmore, Ahmadabad and Ratnagiri.

Rajen Gohain, Minister of State for Railways, said, "IRCTC is planning to set up Green Field Base Kitchens at the following locations. A budget target of capital expenditure Rs 15 crores has been set by IRCTC for 2018-19, for setting up new/renovation of existing kitchen/production unit."

In order to win customers' trust and the hygienic conditions that food is prepared in, IRCTC has further started live streaming of its kitchens.

IRCTC has also launched 8 base kitchens at Ahmadabad, Balasore, Kharagpur, Sealdah, Noida, New Delhi (under renovation), Howrah and Rajendra Nagar Patna.

In order to upgrade quality of food served on trains, the IRCTC is to set up new kitchens and upgrade existing ones, parliament was told on Wednesday.

"The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) has been mandated to carry out the unbundling by creating a distinction primarily between food preparation and food distribution on trains. In order to upgrade quality of food preparation, IRCTC is to set up new kitchens and upgrade existing ones," Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

He said that the new policy which was floated on February 27 last year mandates the zonal railways to hand over the kitchens managed by them to IRCTC.

"Food Plaza, fast food units and food court will continue to be managed by IRCTC. At present, IRCTC has taken over almost all units in phased manner," he said.

He also said that the procedure laid down for allotment of contracts for running various stalls at railway platforms have also been simplified.

The minister said that the revamping of existing railway catering system by carrying out unbundling under Catering Policy 2017 is aimed at providing quality hygienic food to customers at affordable prices.

Highlighting the initiatives of the IRCTC to upgrade the mobile catering services in the trains, Gohain said: "The menu of prepaid trains has been revised to upgrade the quality of meal served to the passengers and the meal trays of bio-degradable material with air tight sealed cover for packing of meals from kitchens has been introduced initially in selected Rajdhani and Duronto trains."

Beside two initiatives, the IRCTC has also launched provision of hand sanitizers in prepaid trains and this is provided to the travelling passengers before service of meal.

The Minister further said that the IRCTC has deployed supervisors for on-board monitoring of catering services. "The on board monitoring staff have been provided with pre-installed complaint or feedback monitoring application on mobile tablets. Further, CCTV cameras have been installed in base kitchens for real time monitoring," Gohain said.

"Sixteen base kitchens of the IRCTC have been up-graded with modern and mechanised equipments. Food safety supervisors have been deployed in IRCTC managed base kitchens for audit of food safety, hygiene and sampling of the cooked food and raw material," he said.

The Minister further said that the service trolleys have been introduced in Rajdhani and Duronto trains for smooth service and the IRCTC has also introduced the billing through POS machines in selected mobile units to avoid overcharging of meal by service providers.

"The railways has also introduced ready to eat meals in order to enable the passengers to have variety in meals in the train," he added.