Seeking to explore the possibility of making mandatory catering services on trains, the Ministry of Railways has decided to provide Optional Catering Provision in the Puri-Howrah-Puri Shatabdi Express on an experimental basis for a period of 45 days from June 15, 2016.
This experiment would be conducted to ascertain the cuisine choices of travelling passengers and provide them with local food choices. During the trial, catering services would be included by default. However, passengers have to specifically opt out from the mandatory food option and catering charges would be excluded from the ticket fare, an official release said.
It said passengers would not be allowed to change their options at any point of time once they choose an option at the time of booking their tickets. The IRCTC would ensure provision of e-catering facility enroute stations for this train so that local cuisines are available to the travelling passengers.
The passengers who show preference for e-catering would not have to pay for mandatory catering charges as part of their total ticket fare. Based on the feedbacks from passengers, the Railways would consider introducing such a facility in other trains and continue this service in the Shatabdi train. Provision has been made in the PRS System to reflect the exercised option by the passengers of the Reservation Chart for convenience of passengers, said the release.