Railways permit cooked food to be sold at stations for the first time since Covid-19 outbreak

The national carrier had so far allowed the sale of only packaged food across catering and vending units at stations. Food stalls across platforms had been shut throughout the nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25.

Ahead of the festival season rush, the Railways have allowed cooked food to be sold at food plazas and shops at railway stations for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak, according to an order issued by railways’ catering arm the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

A health worker in a PPE kit collects a swab sample from an Indian railways employee for a rapid antigen Covid-19 test at New Delhi Railway Station. (HT PHOTO.)

The national carrier had so far allowed the sale of only packaged food across catering and vending units at stations. Food stalls across platforms had been shut throughout the nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25.

“Zones are advised that static catering units (FP, FFU, RR. JA & CK) which are operational at 10% of licence fee with limited saleable items up till September 30 may be allowed to operate till October 31 at pro-rata LF of 20 per cent of license fee with sale of cooked food as takeaway only. No dine in to be allowed,” the IRCTC order said.

“Further, zones are also advised that the contracts which have expired after March 23 may also be allowed to operate up to October 31 on payment of licence fee of 20 per cent,” it added.

At present around 310 special trains are plying since lockdown while regular trains remain suspended indefinitely.