Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda in his railway budget has proposed to introduce ready to eat meals and Food Courts at the Railway stations for the benefit of the passengers, but the lone canteen at the Dehradun Railway Station is deprived of customers. less number of passengers prefer to eat at the Railway Station here due to reasons like poor quality and hygiene. Dehradun is the terminal station also, so very few people tend to eat at the railway station.
In his maiden budget speech Gowda proposed that Food courts and ready to eat meals would be provided at the Railway stations with the help of private participation. A visit to the canteen of the Dehradun Railway Station revealed that the foot fall in the canteen is very less. It leaves a big question mark on the viability of a Food court and ready-to-eat meal centre at the railway station here. The prospect of bleak business may prevent a private player from opening an eatery at the station.
The Manager of the canteen at Dehradun Railway Station, Manish Jain, said that despite this being a rush season, only 25-30 people visit the canteen daily these days. "In the lean season, the arrival of people becomes even less and we have deployed a staff of only three persons due to less work load here," he said. The canteen here is operated by a contractor 'Paul and Company', a full meal (Thali) is provided here at a modest rate of Rs 35 only. The canteen has a limited menu and provides service from 6 am to 10 pm. When asked about the less inflow of the passengers in the canteen Jain said the canteen is situated at far end of the platform and many people are not aware of the location. Jain appeared apprehensive about the success of a Food Court at the Railway station of Dehradun.
An engineering student and resident of Calcutta Subhrajit Ghosh appeared satisfied by the quality of food at the canteen, when asked about the proposal to set up the Food courts at railway stations Ghosh said that the idea is good but good quality food at affordable rates should be available at these joints. Amit Sharma a resident of Delhi said that the proposal to improve the quality of food at the railway stations and the trains is good for both the Railways and the passengers. He said that the proposal to place RO machine at the railway stations should be implemented on priority as most of people do not drink water provided at the railways station taps and the packaged water sold at the stations is unreliable and expensive.