Trains were also stopped when a nationwide lockdown was put in place to prevent corona infection. Although trains are starting to move slowly, the facilities available within the train have been reduced. Trains, blankets, pillows and sheets have been stopped in AC bogies following the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. It has now been allowed to resume e-catering services on Indian Railways.
Food delivery will be allowed on trains at select stations across the country. The service will be resumed only in accordance with the operation instructions given by the local authorities. The announcement came after Railway Restro CEO and founder Manish Chandra wrote to Railway Ministry and IRCTC officials to allow e-catering service on trains.
RailWestro, the official e-catering service from IRCTC, has received approval from the Ministry of Railways and is ready to operate from the last week of January 2021 “All restaurant parties have been asked to ensure a swatch and unconnected service,” said Kriti Raj, public relations manager at Railstar.
The company has issued strict guidelines, including thermal scanning of restaurant staff and distribution staff during operation, regular kitchen swatch cleaning, use of protective masks, or face shields of restaurant staff and delivery personnel. It is said that food is prepared only when the body temperature is less than 99 degrees F.
Guidelines for delivery personnel are also well formulated and must be followed. Taking orders only after hand washing, compulsory use of the distribution staff ‘Health Setu’ application, contactless delivery to ensure zero human contact, frequent use of protective masks or covers, and hygiene of delivery bags after delivery.
Manish Chandra, founder and CEO of RailRestro, said, “Due to the lockdown, the e-catering industry has been affected for the past several months, as security is our priority as a nation. All of our restaurants have to provide healthy food to ensure food, and safety guidelines for zero-contact food preparation and delivery have been sent out, with passenger service restarted by the end of January.
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