BHOPAL: A fancy round-theclock rail coach restaurant will be developed at Bhopal railway station soon. DRM Saurabh Bandopadhyay said that this effort is being made to provide new facilities to the railway passengers. Two contracts have been finalised for setting up these food joints at Bhopal and Itarsi stations.
The Western Central Railway. has finalised contracts for setting up Rail Coach Restaurants at 7 major stations including Bhopal. These contracts have been finalized under non-fare revenue policy through open tender for setting up Rail Coach Restaurants at Railway Stations.
“This will give a new experience to the rail users and general public and will also give a new identity to the city. The old coach will be refurbished by the licensee and converted into a rail coach restaurant,” said DRM Bandopadhyay.
These coaches will remain as the property of the Railways. This contract will be for a period of 5 years. In all, 1200 sq. ft. area has been provided at each location. This will result in additional income of Rs 4.8 crore non-fare revenue to West Central Railway.
Under the Non Fare Revenue Scheme, Jabalpur Division has finalised the contract for Rail Coach Restaurant in the circulating area of Jabalpur, Madan Mahal, Katni, Murwara, Satna and Rewa stations. For the period of 5 years of this contract, Railways will get Rs 3.3 crore non-fare revenue.
Senior divisional commercial manager (Bhopal) Vijay Prakash said that the Rail Coach Restaurant at Bhopal Railway Station will be set up on Platform No.-6 (at the Bina end).
“All the expenses of establishment and development will be borne by the licensee. The old coach will be made available on the line nearest to the proposed site by the Railways. This facility will also provide high quality food service to rail users. This service will be available round the clock,” said Prakash.
