LPG crisis unlikely to hit train food services immediately, says railways

Food stored in a hot case at a station. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Food and catering services at railway stations and trains will not be impacted by the LPG shortage, Railway officials said. The supply chains move in such a way that impact, if any at all, may be felt only in the next 15 to 20 days. "The catering might get impacted to some extent, and we are doing our best and awaiting further guidelines from the Railway Board," a top official said.

Induction stove at a station

Also, the Indian Railways' foresight of moving away from fossil-fuel-based energy has now kept it somewhat insulated. The Railways banned the use of LPG onboard pantry cars in trains and at all railway premises around five years ago, and it has been steadily building a parallel - electric cooking infrastructure. "Yes, we have some buffer now. Only food supplied from base kitchens onboard trains and stalls might be affected," an official said.

Electric fryer in Amrit Bharat train

Various voices

Subhash Gupta, Yatri Sangh, Mumbai
‘The government should offer concessions to Indian Railways and maintain their steady supply of LPG gas as much as required for its kitchens. The poor passenger must not get affected in any way'

Electric pantry and hot plates

Ramesh Meshram, a private bus operator
‘Frankly, it will be one good thing that will happen if the railway food stops. Passengers will be spared of their kitchens and contractors. Who wants their food?'

Sheri Atwal, daily commuter
‘It is good to know that one might still get food at stations even in a crisis. At some stations, snacks are really good and tasty. It is the cooked meals that are a matter of complaint'

A catering contractor
‘Snacks might stay, but cooked meals could be affected in a large way if the crisis continues. The meals supplied onboard trains are mostly from base kitchens and cloud kitchens at various locations, and they do use LPG or PNG supply. If this supply is affected, catering services might be affected'

Shailesh Goyal, former member, National Railway Users Consultative Committee
‘The burden of the shortage should not be passed on to passengers as price hikes. Train food is part of the journey. There should be no compromise. The Railways should instruct the base kitchen contractors to switch to alternative cooking fuels'

99.4 per cent electrification

Train ops will stay unaffected, as most of the fleet is now electric. With an aim for total decarbonisation and around 99.4 per cent electrification, most diesel engines from the main lines have been replaced by electric engines.