Indian Railways has updated its catering rules to let well known single brand food chains such as McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Baskin Robbins and Haldirams set up outlets at railway stations.
A new category called Premium Brand Catering Outlet has been added to the 2017 catering policy. Until now, stations mostly had stalls offering basic refreshments like tea, milk and juice.
The Railway Board is rolling out this new category so that major food chains can operate at stations the same way they do at airports.
In a circular sent to all zones on November 13, the board said these outlets can be run directly by the companies or by franchise partners. All licences will be given only through the existing e auction system.
Each licence will be valid for five years, which matches the term for other catering stalls.
An official said that each zone will study the demand, check the space available and plan how to introduce these outlets. Zones will also set additional contract conditions based on their needs.
The move came after a proposal from the South Central Railway.
This step also aligns with the ongoing redevelopment of more than one thousand two hundred stations across the country. Major hubs in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad are creating new commercial areas as part of this upgrade, according to NDTV.
According to the revised guidelines, these premium outlets will be allowed only at stations where there is clear demand. They will be added to station layouts without affecting the existing reserved quotas for catering stalls that support groups such as SC, ST, OBC and freedom fighter families
