Pune: Central Railway Introduces Affordable Meals Scheme for Summer Travelers

Pune, 24th April 2024: During the summer season, there has been a significant increase in the number of passengers travelling by railway trains. In response, the Railways has taken measures to offer affordable food options to passengers. The Central Railway has initiated a scheme to provide inexpensive meals at 100 stations. Passengers can now avail of this facility at stations including Pune, Miraj, Daund, and Sai Nagar Shirdi in the Pune division.

With trains crowded during the summer months, passengers travelling in unreserved coaches often lack access to convenient and budget-friendly food options. To address this issue, the Central Railway, in collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), has introduced this service primarily for passengers in unreserved coaches.

Passengers can now purchase an affordable meal for Rs. 20, while other food items are priced at Rs. 50. These meals, along with drinking water, are available at counters located near the unreserved compartments on the platforms. This setup enables passengers to purchase their food directly from these counters without the need to search for vendors or leave the station premises.

In addition to Pune, Miraj, Daund, and Sai Nagar Shirdi stations in the Pune division of the Central Railway, this facility has been launched at Igatpuri and Karjat stations in the Mumbai division, Manmad, Khandwa, Badnera, and Shegaon stations in the Bhusawal division, Nagpur and Wardha stations in the Nagpur division, and Solapur, Wadi, and Kurduwadi stations in the Solapur division.

The success of the service at around 51 stations last year prompted the Railways to expand it, now operating a total of 150 counters at more than 100 stations. Central Railway aims to further extend this initiative to include more stations in the future.

Here are the rates:
– Affordable Meals: Rs. 20
– Other Food: Rs. 50