Indian Railways introduces new customised menus for diabetics and infants

In a major relief to the diabetics, parents and health enthusiasts, the Railway Board has allowed its catering arm IRCTC to customise its menu to include local and regional cuisines as well as food suitable for diabetics, infants and health aficionados.

The move is aimed at improving catering services on trains and give passengers more options, a note sent by Railways Board to IRCTC said.

"As a measure to improve catering services on trains, it has been decided to give IRCTC the flexibility to customize the menu so as to include items of regional cuisines/preferences, seasonal delicacies, requirement during festivals, food items as per the preferences of different group of passengers such as diabetic food, baby food, health food options, including millet-based local products among others," the note said.


The note also stated that for 'prepaid' trains, in which catering charges are included in the passenger fare, the menu will be decided by the IRCTC within the tariff already notified.

At present, mostly standardised food items and beverages were available on the menu.

In addition, sale of a-la-carte meals and branded food items on MRP will also be permitted on these 'prepaid' trains. Menu and tariff of such a-la-carte meals will be decided by the IRCTC, it noted.

Sale of a-la-carte meals and branded food items on MRP will be permitted on Mail/Express trains. Menu and tariff of such a-la-carte meals will be decided by the IRCTC, it said.

"While deciding the menu, the IRCTC shall ensure that upgradation in quality and standards of food and service is maintained and safeguards are built in to avoid frequent and undue changes such as curtailment in quantity and quality, use of inferior brands, etc to avoid passenger grievances," the note from the Railway Board said.

The note further said the menus should be pre-notified for information of passengers.