The litti-chokha stall that has now been turned into a Sudha Dairy stall at the Patna railway station. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Aug. 9: After the Lok Sabha polls last year, Lalu Prasad had to make way for Mamata Banerjee in the Rail Bhavan in Delhi. A year on, his favourite litti-chokha has made way for other delicacies at Patna Junction station.

The first litti-chokha kiosk, opened on platform number one at the Patna Junction in 2006, has shut shop. Reason: dip in demand. A stall of Sudha Dairy has come up in its place.

Recognising the popularity of litti-chokha among passengers, the-then railway minister Lalu Prasad had directed to open litti-chokha stalls at all the major railway stations. He introduced the delicacy, made of vegetables and flour, at railway stations in the northern and eastern states, after introducing mattha (buttermilk) and tea in kulhads (earthen cups).

But the Bihar’s favourite dish, litti-chokha, is no more served to passengers on platform number one at the Patna Junction. The kiosk now sells various products of Sudha Dairy.

Litti-chokha was much in demand when its stall was inaugurated at the Patna Junction. But its demand has plummeted because of the availability of different food items at the station.

A senior officer in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation said: “This has happened because of the passengers’ choice. They prefer good and hygienic food. If the passengers do not wish to eat litti-chokha, we cannot force them to have it.”

But Narendra Yadav, a passenger, was left disappointed at the Patna railway station today. While waiting to board a train to Hyderabad, Yadav said: “I had planned to carry litti-chokha for my journey. I am visiting Patna after two months and I knew about this place. Today, I see it has made space for another stall.”

A railway employee said: “Lalu Prasad had promised to open litti-chokha stalls when he was the railway minister. People had welcomed the step as well, because it drew huge crowds everyday.”

“When it was opened, the cost of two littis was Rs 6. Later, even when the price was raised by Rs 2, the dish continued to attract a sufficient number of people,” the employee added.

Mangal Ram, another passenger at the Patna railway station, said: “The Bihari dish lost its charm after Mamata Banerjee became the railway minister. The railway officials do not pay much attention to maintain the quality of the food.” An angry passenger, Dudheswar Yadav, said: “Mamata has made the Indian Railways pathetic. I don’t know why they have stopped serving our local dish at the railway station. Local foods like idli and dosa are served in the south-bound trains. Fish curry is also served in the trains going towards Bengal. Why are we alienated then?”

The litti is baked on charcoal. Chokha, a raw mixture of boiled potatoes, roasted brinjals, tomatoes, finely chopped green chillies, onion, garlic and ginger, makes it a nutritious dish.