McDonald's on Railway Station: Railway stations will see a new change. You'll now be able to enjoy food and drinks at outlets of popular food brands like KFC, McDonald's, Baskin Robbins, Pizza Hut, Haldiram's, and Bikanerwala at major stations like New Delhi, Howrah, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and more. The Railway Board has revised its catering policy.

When you go to the airport, you might have seen outlets of famous food brands like KFC, McDonald's, Baskin Robbins, Pizza Hut, Haldiram's and Bikanerwala. You might have wondered why such famous food chains are not seen at railway stations? Now you will see their outlets at major railway stations as well. Yes, according to a TOI report, the Railways has changed its catering policy. This has now paved the way for big and premium brands to open their shops at the stations.

Why was this necessary

A new middle class has emerged in the country. They want clean and better facilities at railway stations and trains, just like at airports, even if it means paying a little more. In light of this, a proposal was submitted to the Railway Board from the South Central Railway Zone. This led to high-level discussions, resulting in changes to the railway's catering policy.

Space will be easily available for food chain

If you visit an outlet of a famous brand, you'll find that they're usually slightly larger than regular food stalls. However, it's been almost 100 years since major Indian stations were built. Will there be enough space for these food chains on railway stations or platforms? A senior Railway Board official explains that this change comes at a time when the Railways is revamping more than 1,200 stations across the country, including stations in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. Space for such shops will be readily available at these transformed stations, as provisions for this have been made in their master plans.

Single brand company outlets will also open.

According to the new railway guidelines, zonal railways will allow single-brand and company-owned outlets or franchise outlets to open in locations where there is demand and need for them. These outlets will be incorporated into the station plan or blueprint. This will not change the reservation policy for existing stalls at stations. The current reservation policy reserves seats for SC, ST, OBC, and freedom fighters and their widows, and people displaced due to railway land acquisition.

Stalls will be available through e-auction

The Railway Board has also clarified that stalls for premium brands will not be awarded based on anyone's request or recommendation. These outlets will be allocated solely through an e-auction policy. Each outlet will operate for five years. After that, the allocation process will begin again.

Various stalls at stations

Currently, railway stations across the country offer three types of food and beverage stalls: beverages, snacks, tea, milk bars, and juice bars. With the change in catering policy, a fourth category, "Premium Brand Catering Outlets," has been added. It's worth noting that approximately 23 million passengers travel by train every day. Millions of them purchase food and beverages at railway stations.

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