Train passengers can now enjoy tea for lesser price as the Railway Board has done away with the provision of ‘service’ charge levied on food items ordered during the train journey, even if you have not pre-booked your meals with your tickets. The new rates will be applicable in premium trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto and Vande Bharat trains.
The notification comes amid controversy over service charge collected by the ticketing and catering arm of railways, IRCTC. The tax invoices had gone viral on social media recently where a passenger tweeted the cost of ordering tea and food on board where he paid Rs 50 as ‘service’ charge for a Rs 20 cup of tea.
Even as the Railways eliminated on-board service charges on all meals and beverages that are not pre-ordered on premium trains, the catch is that Rs 50 charge has been added to the prices of snacks, lunches and dinners. The increase however reflects in the cost of the food instead of the service charges, as per the PTI report.
The circular issued to IRCTC has mentioned the catering charges for tea, breakfast, lunch and dinner for both the categories of passengers in pre-booked trains such as Rajdhani, Duronto, Shatabdi and Vande Bharat.
What are new rates for meals?
Earlier, the rates for breakfast, lunch and evening snacks were Rs 105, Rs 185 and Rs 90, respectively while an additional charge of Rs 50 used to be levied with each meal. However, the passengers will now have to pay Rs 155, Rs 235, and Rs 140 for these meals with the service charge being added to the cost of the meal, reported news agency PTI.
"The removal of the service charge will only reflect in the prices of tea and coffee. In this, the passenger who has not pre-booked will pay the same amount as a passenger who has booked it. However, for all other meals the service charge amount has been added to the cost of meals for non-booked facilities," PTI report quotes offcial as saying.
The notice reads that the prices are inclusive of GST, meaning there will be no additional charges. It adds that the charges for all food items will be the same for both the categories of passengers in such trains.