IRCTC Alert! The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hiked meal fares on the Shatabadi, Rajdhani and Duronto class of trains, resulting in slight increase in their fares, according to a government order. According to a circular issued by the Director (tourism and catering) of the Railway Board, the cost of prepaid food items on the said Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto trains will go up significantly.
The price for a cup of tea on Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi express has been raised from Rs 10 to Rs 15 in sleeper class and Rs 20 in second class AC boogies. As for lunch or dinner, a meal in sleeper class of the Duronto express will now cost Rs 120 than the earlier Rs 80, and the price of evening tea in these trains have been increased to Rs 50 from 20.
Defending the hike, Railways Ministry in the circular stated that hike in the price of the meal was done as per requests received from the IRCTC as well as recommendations of the menu and tariff committee set up by the Railway Board.
Here are revised catering rates for first-class AC/EC seats on Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto Express:
| Item |
Existing rate (Rs) |
Revised rate (Rs) |
| Morning tea |
15 |
35 |
| Breakfast |
90 |
140 |
| Lunch or dinner |
145 |
245 |
| Evening tea |
75 |
140 |
Catering rates for 2AC/3AC/CC seats on Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto Express:
| Item |
Existing rate (Rs) |
Revised rate (Rs) |
| Morning tea |
10 |
20 |
| Breakfast |
75 |
105 |
| Lunch or dinner |
125 |
185 |
| Evening tea |
45 |
90 |
Catering rates for Sleeper class seats on Duronto Express:
| Item |
Existing rate (Rs) |
Revised rate (Rs) |
| Morning tea |
10 |
15 |
| Breakfast |
40 |
65 |
| Lunch or dinner |
80 |
120 |
| Evening tea |
20 |
50 |
Catering rates for other Mail or Express trains:
| Item |
Existing rate (Rs) |
Revised rate (Rs) |
| Morning tea |
30 |
40 |
| Breakfast |
35 |
50 |
| Lunch or dinner |
50 |
80 |
| Evening tea |
55
|
90 |
According to the circular issued by the Railway ministry, the revised rates of the meal will be updated in the ticketing system in 15 days. However, the updated rates will be applicable after 120 days. The railway board said that the spike in evening tea prices was on account of extra items like roasted nuts, snacks, sweets, etc. that would be provided to compliment the tea.
It was also decided to give veg, egg and chicken biryani meals at a cost of Rs 80, Rs 90 and Rs 110, respectively and a chicken curry meal at Rs 130.
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