Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 13: Catering on long-distance trains has been declared an essential service, and regular onboard food services resumed from Thursday night.
Following a letter from the Railway Board, the Ministry of Petroleum instructed petroleum companies — BPCL, HPCL, and Indian Oil — and all state authorities to provide 19-kg gas cylinders to railway kitchens as per requirement. A railway source said, “The total allotment for Mumbai has been about 171 gas cylinders, and our teams have now gone to procure them. Cooking will begin tonight.”
In the Mumbai region, IRCTC operates seven cloud kitchens supplying cooked meals to premium trains. These are located at Sewri, Kurla, Borivli, Chembur, Panvel, Valsad, and Powai. While IRCTC did not officially comment, sources confirmed that the resumption of cooking will ensure uninterrupted catering services onboard.