GUWAHATI: To provide facilities of meals of their choice during train journey, 13 (thirteen) service providers have been engaged by IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) in eight station of N.F. Railway.
These eight stations are Katihar, Kishanganj, New Jalpaiguri, New Bongaigaon, Guwahati, Lumding, Dimapur and New Tinsukia. The system is known as E-catering. Through which passenger can avail the option of food of their choice delivered right into their berth on arrival of the train at station. And the payment can be made only after receipt of the food, the N F Railway CPRO P J Sharma said.
Apart from the above stations, vendor empanelment for Kamakhya, New Cochbehar, New Alipurduar, Dibrugarh Town, Rangiya, Badarpur & Agartala stations are in process to provide this facility to more passengers.
The IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) has launched the E-catering project with the objective to facilitate passengers to book meals of their choice few months ago. The project has been extended time to time to cover more number of trains on Indian Railways. Ministry of Railways has also decided to widen the reach of this scheme to more stations based on response/feedback received from the passengers and the need to ensure provision of catering services to travelling passengers. Under this scheme passengers are able to get pre-ordered meals of their choice at stations. Presently, station based e-catering is available at 409 stations all over India Railway.
IRCTC has established a call centre and has also operationalized E-catering website www.ecatering.irctc.co.in for this purpose. Passengers can pre-order the meal from the different options available as per their choice, for delivery at the opted stations through the e-catering (website & phone/SMS call centre). E-catering is available in Pre-paid basis i.e. online payment as well as Cash on delivery (COD) basis. Vendor delivers the pre-ordered meal to customer on stationary train at the opted station.
Mode of booking for E-catering services:
On-line, the website address is www.ecatering.irctc.co.in
Through mobile app, ‘food on track’ which can be downloaded on Android/IOS phones.
By making a call on 1323.
Through SMS, by typing MEAL <PNR> and sending to 139.
Payment options available for making a booking are as under:
Website: – Prepaid & Cash on Delivery (COD)
Mobile App: – Prepaid & Cash on Delivery (COD)
On Call:- Cash on Delivery (COD)
SMS: – Cash on Delivery (COD)