Free food for kids below 5 in Shatabdi, Rajdhani

Free food will be provided to children below five years in Shatabdi and Rajdhani Express trains, Railway Minister Nitish Kumar announced on Tuesday.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has been directed to provide this facility, he said presenting the 2002-03 Rail Budget in the Lok Sabha.

Fifty food plazas will be commissioned at various railway stations for providing wholesome and hygienic food during 2002-03, Kumar said.

A pilot project for provision of six budget hotels will also be implemented within this year, the minister said, adding that the newly-established IRCTC has become functional and has already taken over substantial catering operation from Indian Railways.

"The departmental catering of Indian Railways will be transferred to IRCTC along with catering staff," he added.

Acting on complaints of poor quality of bottled water at stations, Railways plan to produce its own packaged drinking water and sell them under the brand name 'Rail Neer'.

Plants for this purpose will be established by the newly set up Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation.

These plants will be set up in a phased manner throughout the country, Railway Minister Nitish Kumar said while presenting the Budget for 2002-03 in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

'Rail Neer' will be the exclusive brand to be sold at railway premises and trains to ensure that passengers got quality drinking water, he said.

The minister said since the entire investment in the project would be by IRCTC, it would not put any additional burden on Indian Railways finances.

He said decision had been taken in view of complaints regarding the poor quality of bottled water being sold at railway stations.

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The Rail Budget 2002-03
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Run-Up To The Budget
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