New Delhi: In a bid to explore the possibility of making mandatory catering services optional on trains, Indian Railways on Wednesday has launched the scheme on Nizamuddin-Mumbai August Kranti Rajdhani Express and Pune-Secunderabad Shatabdi Express.
"We had announced in the Budget to make catering service optional in a few selected trains and today we are launching the same," Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said here after launching the scheme.
According to the scheme, an optional catering service will be provided on a trial basis to passengers from June 9.
However, catering services will be included by default.
Passengers have to specifically opt out from the mandatory food option and catering charges will be excluded from the ticket fare.
Also, passengers will not be allowed to change their options at any point of time once they exercise such an option at the time of booking their tickets.
Catering charges ranges from Rs 175 to Rs 340 will be deducted from the total fare if the passenger opts out from the mandatory food option.
Mr Prabhu said that till now, total 101 initiatives are being undertaken for passenger benefits.
The minister also inaugurated an elevated booking office and escalator at Kandivali station and two escalators at Goregaon station.
