With things gradually returning to pre-pandemic normalcy, the Indian Railways has decided to restore catering services with cooked food on premium trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas and Gatiman.
As per the order issued by the Railway Board on December 23, the Zonal Railways will verify the catering charges to be realised based on services being provided and the applicable rate list and feed the same in the PRS software for enabling booking/opting out of catering services, from advanced reservation period (ARP) date, at the time of booking of tickets.
For PNRs already booked, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will intimate the Zonal Railway concerned about the exact date from which onboard catering services with cooked food will be resumed on a particular train for the journeys falling within the ARP. The order added that the Zonal Railways on getting such intimation will enable the option of booking meal/opting out of catering services for the journey dates starting from the commencement of catering service in PRS software.
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The Board also directed the IRCTC to inform e-ticket passengers already booked on above-mentioned trains through SMS and e-mail regarding resumption of cooked food supply.