The mouthwatering aloo puri has made a grand comeback on the railway station platforms as the Indian Railways announced the provision of affordable meals and packaged water especially designed for general coach passengers. According to the railway’s statement, dedicated counters or trolleys are being placed on platforms, perfectly aligned with the general coaches.

The meals would be divided into two categories. The type one offered seven “pooris” with dry “aaloo” and pickle at a price of Rs 20.

On the other hand, the type two meal, priced at Rs 50, will treat passengers to a delectable assortment of South Indian food, including rice, rajma, chhole, khichdi kulche, bhature, pao-bhaji, and masala dosa. The Railway Board has issued instructions to officials concerned to make provisions of economy meals and affordable packaged drinking water through counters placed near GS coaches.

GS coaches referred to the general seating coach. Almost every train, including mail/express trains, has at least two GS coaches - one near the locomotive and the other at the end of the train. Anyone with a General/Unreserved ticket bought from the counter could travel in those compartments.

The meals will be supplied from the kitchen units (Refreshment Rooms - RRs and Jan Ahaars - JAs) of IRCTC,” the order stated.

The location of these counters will be decided by railway zones to align with the location of GS coaches on platforms.

The provision of these extended service counters at the platforms is being done on an experimental basis for a period of six months.

As of then, the provision has been implemented at 51 stations, and it was available at 13 more from Thursday. Officials said efforts were being made to provide drinking water glasses of 200 ml at these counters.

The initiative was introduced for passenger convenience, especially in those coaches that were often overcrowded.