New Delhi: Amid a shortage of LPG cylinders across the country, the Indian Railways is considering temporarily halting catering services on trains, with the final call pending from the Railway Board. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), is expected to issue refunds to passengers who had pre-booked meals while booking tickets.
The LPG crisis triggered by the ongoing war in the Middle East, has adversely impacted IRCTC’s base kitchens, where meals served to passengers on trains are prepared before being sent to pantry cars.
According to officials, around 17 lakh meals are served daily across the country through IRCTC’s base kitchen network and onboard catering systems. However, meal services could be temporarily stopped if LPG supplies continue to remain tight.
“Meals served to passengers on trains are prepared at IRCTC base kitchens. If there is any disruption in LPG availability, it will directly impact meal preparation and supply to trains,” a railway official said.
If passengers have already booked their meals, they will get refund, according to officials.
Meanwhile, the LPG crisis has also forced the closure of many restaurants and hotels across the country, especially in major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune Chennai.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has set up a committee to review supply shortages of commercial LPG. “For LPG supply to other non-domestic sectors, a committee of three Executive Directors (EDs) of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been constituted to review the representations for LPG supply to restaurants/hotels/other industries,” the Ministry said in a post on X.