The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Professionals to monitor quality of catering on trains

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Sunday, May 11, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Professionals to monitor quality of catering on trains

S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI: With a view to improving the quality of food items served on trains and railway platforms, the Indian Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is to appoint quality control professionals.

Selected professionals will travel on trains to inspect, monitor and maintain the quality of catering and hospitality services.

According to a corporation official here mobile catering on running trains is always a source of concern.

A majority of passengers are not satisfied with food served and also the service.

They feel that food items are priced exorbitantly. Catering officials on running trains are mostly indifferent and treat passengers with scant respect. They are seldom receptive to passengers’ complaints. Passengers on their part are not making proper complaints to railway officials as they forget once they complete the journey.

Many constraints

The official said though there were many constraints in serving food items on trains, it could not be an excuse for the poor quality. So the corporation decided to appoint quality professionals. These quality professionals would collect information from passengers about the quality of food and service rendered by the staff.

They would submit reports to their higher-ups for corrective action.

Mini-base kitchens

The Corporation is also planning to set up mini-base kitchens in major railway stations to cater to the requirement of mobile catering in long distance mainline trains. By supplying food items through these kitchens, it is possible to monitor the quality. Candidates who are trained in recognised food institutes in the country would be selected for the posts, the official said.

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