Gas Shortage May Hit Railway Snacks: Vada, Samosa Likely To Disappear From Stations
Gas Shortage May Hit Railway Snacks: Vada, Samosa Likely To Disappear From Stations
LPG supply disruption may affect preparation of fried snacks at railway stations; vendors advised to shift to alternative cooking methods.
Popular snacks such as vada, samosa and bread pakoda may soon disappear from several railway station stalls as a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders begins to affect food preparation at railway premises.
The disruption in gas supply has forced railway authorities and catering operators to consider alternative cooking arrangements, raising concerns among vendors and passengers alike.
According to instructions issued to stall operators, food stalls and catering units at railway stations may face difficulty preparing fried items if LPG supply remains irregular. Vendors have been asked to explore other cooking methods to keep services running.
Two important communications have reportedly been issued to food service operators at stations, directing them to take precautionary steps in view of the ongoing gas shortage. The situation has particularly affected snacks that require deep frying, which typically depends on commercial LPG cylinders.
Vendors Asked To Switch Cooking Methods
To manage the situation, stall operators have been advised to use electrical cooking options such as microwave ovens or induction stoves instead of LPG wherever possible.
Authorities have also suggested that vendors keep sufficient stock of ready-to-eat food items so that passengers do not face inconvenience if cooking becomes difficult due to gas shortages.
The guidelines issued by the railway catering system clarify that these measures apply mainly to food plazas, refreshment rooms and ‘Jan Aahar’ outlets operating at railway stations.
Train Catering May Also Be Affected
While pantry cars in trains generally focus on heating and distributing food rather than cooking it, the shortage of LPG at base kitchens located at stations is making it difficult to prepare meals for long-distance trains.
Railway officials are reportedly exploring contingency plans if the supply problem continues. In case cooking services are disrupted, passengers who have already pre-booked meals while booking tickets may receive refunds.
For now, railway authorities say the aim is to ensure that passenger services remain unaffected, even if cooking methods at stations have to temporarily change due to the gas supply constraints.
