The IRCTC has also announced that all stalls in future, will be modular.

“The response to the first modular stall at Chandigarh railway station was beyond our expectation. Keeping this in mind, six more modular stalls will be installed at all the platforms,” said Aneet Dulat, regional manager, IRCTC.

A prototype of the modular stall, which was installed at the intersection of platform number two and three at the Chandigarh railway station in the first week of December last year, was the first such initiative in the Ambala division.

Under the IRCTC guidelines, 80 per cent of the food items would be pre-packed, while the rest would be freshly prepared.

The contract for these stalls will be awarded to private agencies. “It is an attempt by the IRCTC to improve the standard and quality of food items at stations. Rather than unpacked and low quality eatables, packed and hygienic food will now be available for passengers. Under IRCTC guidelines, the contractor will be responsible for the quality and standard of eatables,” he added.

While one stall each had been set up at the stations in Patiala, Saharanpur, two stalls had been set up in Ludhiana. It has been decided to install five more stalls at Ludhiana railway station.