Title - Fast food counter to come up at Charbagh - The Times of India

Passengers will soon get another facility at Charbagh station. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corportation (IRCTC) will open a fast food unit at the station, providing passengers quick meals. This will be in addition to Comesum and Jan-Aahar, the two IRCTC food outlets that already exist at the station.

As per the new catering policy, IRCTC can run either a food plaza or food court or fast food units at stations. IRCTC had planned to open up a food court at Charbagh but that did not materialize due to lack of proper site. A food plaza, Comesum, already exists at the station.

Northern Railway has provided space at the second class booking for the fast food unit. "It will provide passengers ready-to-take meals," said Manoj Sinha, chief regional manager, IRCTC Lucknow. The unit will have automatic dispensing units. But unlike Comesum, it will not have seating arrangement for passengers.

The Lucknow office of IRCTC has to open 32 fast food units at stations including Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad and Izzatnagar. IRCTC has also identified few sites at Varanasi to open up the units. For Lucknow, tendering might begin this month.

On the variety of food to be provided at fast food units, IRCTC has to finalise the menu. The units will add to the passenger amenities at the station, as passengers can carry the ready-to-take food on their journey as well. The ready-to-take food might also not cost more as IRCTC will make efforts to keep it economical. Though presently only Charbagh station is getting the unit set-up, in days to come, Lucknow Junction station might also get one. Besides, IRCTC Lucknow might open up food plaza at stations where the facility is not available.