Railway gets its own catering, mineral water

The Bangladesh Railway Catering and Tourism Cell (BRCTC), the Ministry of Railways' catering agency, will provide catering services to the Sonar Bangla Express from 15 November. 

The ministry recently formed a five-member committee to supervise the cell's services and manage its financial matters. The ministry's marketing division will provide catering services until necessary manpower is appointed at the BRCTC.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan made the disclosure at a press briefing in the Railway Bhaban's conference room on Thursday, adding that the Bangladesh Railway will also resume selling its own brand of mineral water named "Railpani" on railway premises from Sunday. 

The Bangladesh Railway had begun selling "Railpani" from April this year, but later halted the sales after receiving a huge volume of complaints about the product's standard. 

But now, the authorities have obtained certificates from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). 

"We offered tender and received responses from 10 companies. We then shortlisted two companies, and finally gave a company named Shyamoli the contract to distribute "Railpani," the minister said.

He added, "We will get Tk1.4 from the sale of each 500ml bottle. So it is a profitable venture for the Bangladesh Railway."

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujon also mentioned that the ministry is planning to operate catering services under own management in all the trains. "Catering Policy 2020 for the railway has already been approved by the president," the minister said.