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Service of branded Ready to Eat (RTE) meals on Trains

Commercial Circular No. 06 of 2015 · 2015-01-30
Historical — likely supersededCircularcatering
Historical — likely superseded. This circular predates 2020 and has probably been replaced. Treat it as a record of what the rule was, not what it is. The official Railway Board PDF always prevails over anything shown here.

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Circular numberCommercial Circular No. 06 of 2015
File numberNo. 2014/TG-III/631/2
Date2015-01-30
TypeCommercial Circular
Topiccatering
CurrencyHistorical — likely superseded
Official PDFindianrailways.gov.in

Summary

Service of branded Ready to Eat (RTE) meals on Trains availability of the items of approved ‘Ready to Eat’ meal and mandatorily

Text of the circular

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAILWAY BOARD
No. 2014/TG-III/631/2 New Delhi, Dated:30.01.2015

The Chief Commercial Managers,
All Indian Railways.

The Chairman and Managing Director,
IRCTC, New Delhi.
(Commercial Circular No. 06 /2015)

Sub: Service of branded Ready to Eat (RTE) meals on Trains.

In compliance of the Budget Announcement 2014-15, Ministry of Railways
has decided to introduce service of branded pre-cooked ‘Ready to Eat’ meals on
trains in order to improve quality and hygiene of on-board catering services and
also to offer more variety of food to the passengers. Following policy guidelines
are issued.

1. Introduction of ‘Ready to Eat’ (RTE) meals :

1.1 Ready to Eat (RTE) meals includes pre-cooked food, frozen food, etc.
packaged through modern technology including retort packing which have
a shelf life of not less than three months.

1.2 In the first phase, service of branded pre-cooked ‘Ready to Eat’ (RTE)
meals/frozen foods will-be served on all Mail/Express Trains having Pantry
Cars as an ‘add on’ option under the category of a-la-carte to the
passengers in addition to other standard items as part of the catering
services on payment basis.

1.3. The licensees of the Pantry Cars may be directed to introduce branded RTE
meal as approved by the nominated zonal railway. They shall ensure
availability of the items of approved ‘Ready to Eat’ meal and mandatorily
provide an option to the passengers as it is part of the a-la-carte items.

1.4 Based on the response and acceptability of these foods, RTE meals will be
introduced in other mobile and static catering units in due course.

2. Shortlisting of ‘Ready to Eat’ brands :

2.1 North Western Railway on behalf of Indian Railways shall select firms
which produce reputed and branded RTE meals/items so as to provide
variety, quality & hygienic RTE meals at affordable price to the passengers
across all zonal railways. Approval/shortlisting of firms will be done by
North Western Railway through Expression of Interest (EOI) to ensure
participation of reputed firms having national and/or international
presence with wide range of RTE products.

2.2 A panel of shortlisted reputed firms which produce ‘Ready to Eat’ meal
must be finalized by North Western Railway by a 3 member standing
committee of JAG/SG officers from Commercial, Health & Finance
department to be nominated by the PHOD/CHOD of the respective
department. The criteria for shortlisting must ensure that only reputed
brands are selected by the committee nominated and approved by the

CCMs.

2.3

2.4

2.5

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

The panel of firms so empanelled shall be valid for three years which is
extendable by further two years from the date of notification subject to
satisfactory performance of the brands, which is measured by the following
parameters.

a) No serious complaints from passengers.

b) Validity of necessary certificates with regard to food safety standards
& food manufacturing standards under FSSAI.

८) Compliance with the technical quality that meets
National/International Standards like ISO 22000, HACCP etc.

In cases of new entrants/applicants for supplying RTE meals during the
period, the zonal railways may consider placement of developmental orders
on them through trials. On successful completion of trials, empanelment
may be done by North Western Railway following the procedure mentioned
in this policy in order to ensure wide participation of RTE meal suppliers.

It must be ensured that the selected firms comply with the statutory
requirements such as Service Tax registration, TAN Number, Food
license/PFA license, registration/incorporation of the firm, etc.

Eligibility Criteria for shortlisting of RTE meals Brands.

The firms must comply with the technical quality that meets National
and/or International Standards like ISO 22000, HACCP, etc. and must
possess valid certificates in this regard.

The firms must comply with the food safety and quality standard norms
laid dow

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