LPG shortage from West Asia conflict may force IRCTC to suspend cooked meals on trains: Report

As shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) across the country intensifies due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is bracing for a potential cooking fuel crisis that could disrupt its pre-cooked meal services on trains.

The concerns have come in the backdrop of the widening conflict in West Asia after the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other leaders on February 28 by the US-Israel joint strikes, that may affect the supply of commercial LPG cylinders in the country.

According to a Times of India report, the IRCTC is mulling temporary suspension of the cooked meal services on the trains for its passengers. The Railways, as per the report, may also issue refunds to the passengers who had booked meals while during their reservations.

Railways officials have told the newspaper that the shortage is affecting the base kitchens where meals are prepared before being loaded into the train pantries. IRCTC prepares as many as 17 lakh meals per day.

“The issue has become serious and is likely to aggravate if LPG supplies continue to remain tight. Catering services on trains depend on food prepared at the IRCTC base kitchens. Any disruption in LPG availability directly impacts meal preparation and supply to trains,” an official was quoted as saying.

He further said, “We have suggested a few measures, including the possibility of temporarily suspending catering services if the shortage continues. In such a situation, passengers who have already booked meals at the time of reservation will be refunded. However, it is for the Railway board to take the final call and issue guidelines.”

Meanwhile, as the concerns over possible LPG shortage continue, the IRCTC has directed catering units at railway stations in its western zone to shift to microwave and induction plates and maintain stocks of ready-to-eat food items for passengers.

In a communication issued on Tuesday, March 10, IRCTC asked operators of food plazas, refreshment rooms and 'Jan Ahaars' to switch to alternative arrangements to maintain seamless catering services for travelling passengers.

"You must switch over to alternate cooking modes viz. microwaves and induction, to offset any potential shortage in LPG supplies," the advisory reads.

The catering units have also been asked to maintain sufficient inventory of ready-to-eat food items in addition to standard packaged and cooked food items to meet passenger demand.

On March 10, the Central government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to regulate the supply, availability and distribution of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, including LNG and re-gasified LNG, ensuring critical sectors receive priority supply.

(With agency inputs)