Popular train to get own pantry by irmafia on 04 August, 2012 - 03:00 PM | ||
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irmafia | Popular train to get own pantry on 04 August, 2012 - 03:00 PM | |
Jasmine Mchardy, who left for Bangalore's Christ College last week, lugged tiffin boxes and water bottles with her suitcases. "Tata-Yeswantpur Express has no water, tea or snacks," she grimaced. The grimace will change into grins for Jasmine who can get hot food during her next journey, with South Eastern Railway (SER) deciding to launch a pantry car before Durga Puja on the sole Bangalore-bound train from Tatanagar. "We will launch a pantry car in Tata-Yeswantpur Express keeping in view passenger demand, especially that of students who travel between Jamshedpur and Bangalore in sizeable numbers. Modalities are being worked out. We are trying for a month-end launch, and if not that, definitely before festive season (read Durga Puja)," an SER spokesperson told The Telegraph. Tata-Yeswantpur is a weekly train that leaves its originating station on Friday. On its return journey, it leaves Yeswantpur on Monday. It is the only train to Bangalore from the city. So far, passengers had to buy food, water and snacks from hawkers on train and platforms during the 36-hour journey. Though families carried homemade food, the demand for a pantry car was huge, especially among students. Divisional operating manager of Chakradharpur railway division Ashok Agarwal said as much. "Demand for a pantry car was raised by the student community and other passengers who frequent the train to Bangalore. It topped the wish list of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry too," Agarwal said. Officials of Garden Reach, SER headquarters, said they consulted Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation on menu, quality and manpower. Citing a recent example, an official said pantry car service at Shalimar-Trivandrum Express was stopped due to substandard food. "That shouldn't recur," he said. |