The Indian Railways has recently taken a commendable step towards providing affordable and convenient food options for passengers travelling in general-class coaches. To cater to the needs of those on a tight budget, the railways has set the cost of an economy meal at a low price of ₹20, while snacks will be available for ₹50. The railway board has stated that these food items will be available at extended service counters on platforms beside general-class coaches.
The menu will offer an exciting mix of south and north Indian dishes, including aloo-pooris, rice, pao-bhaji, masala dosa, khichdi, and chole kulche/bhature. Providing such a diverse range of food items at an economical price is an excellent initiative by the railways and will undoubtedly be appreciated by passengers.
In addition to these food options, the railways will also provide packaged drinking water at an affordable price. This is an essential service that has been made available to all passengers, regardless of their class of travel. This initiative will be experimental for six months, with 51 stations already operational and 13 more to be added.
The Indian Railways has also announced plans to introduce special trains for lower income groups, including manual labourers. These trains will have both sleeper and general-class coaches, with a total of 22 to 26 coaches. This is an excellent move by the railways towards making train travel more accessible and convenient for all.
