Kolkata: With her ministry deciding to departmentalise catering services from the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said IRCTC catering staff were welcome to join the railways.
"After complaints about the food quality, the Railway Ministry had decided to departmentalise the catering services from the IRCTC. Railway staff who went to IRCTC on deputation and catering staff of the IRCTC can join the railways if they want," Banerjee said at a railway function this evening.
Modalities and technicalities of the shiftover of the employees would be decided by the Railway Board, she said.
Stating that the railways were facing difficulties owing to a backlog of vacancies, Banerjee said work was on to scrutinise applications under various categories like, SC/ST/ OBCs, the disabled, sports and culture.
Noting that the Railways have been affected by incidents of sabotage, Banerjee said that her ministry had decided to appoint ex-servicemen in a bid to check such incidents.
Banerjee, who was laying the foundation stone of a nursing college at the South Eastern Railway headquarters premises here, said that eight such colleges have been announced in this years Railway Budget.
The first one was already coming up at nearby Majherhat, she said. PTI
