Big food brands to set up outlets at railway stations under new policy

Your fries burgers chaats and combos are moving closer to the tracks than ever before Food at railway stations just got tastier with the Indian Railways officially giving the green signal for mega food brands mdash think McDonaldrsquos KFC Haldiramrsquos Subway and more mdash to set up right onto station decksImpeccable timingWith colossal citystyle elevated decks by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation MRVC rising at stations like Khar and Kandivli the railways decided it was time to swap boring menus for branded ones With lakhs of daily passengers and footfalls that rival shopping malls these upgraded decks are about to become the hottest real estate for global flavoursThe elevated deck at Kandivli station PICSBY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTThe massive new elevated decks being built at several suburban stations can now house major food brands as the railways last week cleared the policy for setting up small stalls of popular brands at railway stations This will be in addition to the existing stallsBig policy shakeupldquoIn a move aimed at upgrading the food experience of train passengers Indian Railways has approved a new category of station stalls mdash Premium Brand Catering Outlets mdash paving the way for singlebrand chains such as McDonaldrsquos KFC Subway Haldiramrsquos and other reputed names to set up shop on platformsrdquo a spokesperson said According to documents available with midday the Railway Board has clarified that these outlets will not be allotted on a nomination basisFourth catering pillarldquoThe move formally adds a fourth category to the Catering Policy 2017 Earlier stalls were grouped into teabiscuitsnack stalls milk booths and juice and fresh fruit counters The newly added Premium Brand Catering Outlet category is specifically meant for toptier branded chains aligning railway stations with airports that already offer similar highend food optionsUnder the policy these premium stalls will have a fiveyear licence period matching the tenure of other catering stalls but governed by existing instructions on licence fees and operationsThe Railway Board has also directed zonal railways to frame special conditions and guidelines to ensure these premium operations blend with station traffic patterns and reservation layouts without disturbing ongoing passenger servicesThe food revolutionSources said the South Central Railway SCR had initiated this proposal pointing out the rising expectations of passengers who now seek branded hygienic food options during travel Explaining the process a spokesperson said there are two categories of stalls and canteens While the larger ones are allotted by the IRCTC the smaller ones are allotted by the local divisional officesWhile earlier these big brands set up their limited outlets through IRCTC now the local divisional offices too have been allowed to do this This will rapidly increase the presence of branded stalls especially at new locations like the massive elevated decks at city stations where footfall is high