Rail Budget 2014: Railway sets up mega plans to improve food quality in trains

NEW DELHI: The next time you take a train you will have the choice to order 'ready to eat' meals from reputed brands.

The railways has drawn up mega plans to raise the culinary standards promising to set up food courts at major stations. These food courts will dish out regional cuisine to passengers who will have the choice of ordering through text messages, emails or apps in smartphones. The transport behemoth plans to start a pilot project between New Delhi-Amritsar and New Delhi-Jammu Tawi sections.

To assess the quality of food, the railways will launch a feedback service and opt for third party inspection.

The move to improve the quality of food in trains as well as offering more choice to passengers comes against the backdrop of growing criticism of the fare being served on trains now.

"If the service is not to the standards set, especially in hygiene and taste, severe action would be initiated against the vendors including cancellation of the contract," said Railway Minister DV Sadananda Gowda in his budget speech.

But for the passengers the proof of the pudding would lie in the food packets.