Coach restaurants to open soon at stations in Chennai Division 

Coach restaurants to open soon at stations in Chennai Division 

Railway stations have been mostly about ‘pick up and go’, when it comes to food. Historically, railway stations have had economy canteens that sold pre-made food at a low cost and with no dine-in options for customers to enjoy a meal at leisure. But that is set to change with authorities planning more elaborate dining arrangements for passengers. Southern Railway has decided to use huge parcels of vacant land adjacent to railway stations and repurpose old and condemned rail coaches to launch its ‘Restaurant on Wheels’ project.

The first dine-in restaurant under the project has been launched at Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station. It has a re-modified coach for ergonomic seating and dining. The restaurant, Sri Varahi Vihar, was inaugurated by Chennai Divisional Railway Manager B. Vishwanath Eerya on August 28. Located at the southern end of the station near the Chennai Suburban Terminus (MMC), the restaurant serves train passengers as well as the crowd at the Central Square with vegetarian dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, besides beverages and snacks round the clock. The restaurant can accommodate 40 people inside and 110 outside. It will also have a rooftop dining option with seating for 26 persons.

T. Prakash, a regular commuter at the suburban terminus, says the restaurant is a welcome break from the canteens that the Railways operated through private contractors. A. Elumalai, Public Relations Officer of the Chennai Division, says the restaurant is a non-fare revenue initiative, and the space at the Central station has been awarded to the contractor for ₹2.20 crore. The contractor will run the restaurant for two years.

The inauguration of this restaurant has paved the way for the Chennai Division to open rail coach restaurants at Perambur, Potheri, and Kattankulathur.

Mr. Elumalai says the contracts for the old coaches and spaces at the three stations have been awarded and the restaurants will start functioning by the year-end. At the Perambur station, the contract has been awarded for ₹42 lakh, the Potheri station for ₹16.20 lakh and Kattankulathur for ₹10 lakh.

At Perambur, where the station is being renovated under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, and at Kattankulathur, the restaurants will be opened in two months. The coaches are being readied. At Potheri, the restaurant will come up close to the GST Road, near the foot-overbridge. It will facilitate easy access for commuters.

Mr. Elumalai says the Chennai Beach-Chengalpattu section (through Tambaram) attracts a large number of commuters and it runs along GST Road. Hence, rail coach restaurants outside the stations in this section will receive good patronage.