New Delhi: IRCTC has extended its digital food booking facility, i.e., E-pantry, for passengers of mail and express trains. The e-pantry is a digital meal booking facility launched by IRCTC, which provides food to passengers onboard trains. The service will now provide hygenic, fixed-price, and timely food to the passengers of mail and express trains. Earlier, the digital food booking facility was available for premium trains. There has been an overwhelming demand from passengers to provide this service to the above-mentioned trains. There have been a lot of complaints from passengers regarding the overcharging and unauthorised food vendors and poor-quality food during the train journeys.
Now the introduced system will cover food catering needs of passengers having confirmed tickets or RAC tickets as well. The service will be available to trains having a pantry car. Currently, the facility is being piloted on India’s longest distance-covering train, namely, the Vivek Express (22503/04), which plies between Siliguri and Kanyakumari. The digital food service is expected to be implemented in 25 more trains (100 racks) in the upcoming 60 days.
How to avail IRCTC E-pantry service
The customers can select the option of E-pantry while booking the ticket on IRCTC. After booking the ticket, the customer would get a “meal verification code” (MVC) via SMS or email. Showcasing the code while boarding the train allows the passengers to get their food at their designated seats.
The food will be booked online. One can pre-book a standard meal or Rail Neer (water bottle that IRCTC provides) through the IRCTC integrated ticketing system. All payment will be made online. Food is to be made available at the fixed price, and there would be no overcharging. Licensed vendors of IRCTC will provide the food. Prior confirmation of the meal verification code (MVC code) is necessary for availing the food. In case the food is not delivered to the designated seat, a refund will be given to the concerned passenger and the information is to be delivered via SMS/email/WhatsApp.
IRCTC’s e-pantry service, initially available only on premium trains, has expanded to include mail and express trains. Passengers can now pre-book meals online through the IRCTC website or app, receiving a meal verification code. Biz News Business News – Personal Finance News, Share Market News, BSE/NSE News, Stock Exchange News Today
