Title - RAIL NEWS CENTER: New fast food unit at Charbagh station soon

LUCKNOW: Charbagh station will soon get a fast food unit. The Lucknow division of Northern Railway has bagged the consent of the headquarters to open the unit at the station.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corportation (IRCTC) might begin the tendering process soon. "We have informed our corporate office that tendering for a fast food unit at Lucknow station can start," said Manoj Sinha, chief regional manager, IRCTC Lucknow. The fast food unit will provide passengers quick meals.

This will be in addition to Comesum and Jan-Aahar, the two IRCTC food outlets already functional 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 a food court at Charbagh but that did not materialise 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. The unit will have automatic dispensing machines. But unlike Comesum, it will not have seating arrangements 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 a few sites at Varanasi to open such units. On the variety of food to be provided at fast food units, IRCTC has to finalise the menu. The units will add to 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.