Patna, Dec. 26: Be prepared to shell out a few bucks extra next time you eat at the Jan Ahaar stall at Patna Junction.

The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Ltd handed over the control of the Jan Ahaar outlet to the Indian Railways yesterday. This power transition is expected to push up the prices at the food kiosk.

Sources in the Railway Board confirmed that the menu cost will be hiked next week. “The prices on the menu will increase next week. It will be implemented at all three Jan Ahaar stalls under the East Central Railway (ECR) — Patna, Parasnath and Mughalsarai junctions,” said a source.

Food items sure to pinch your pockets are mostly non-vegetarian. According to the source, egg curry, which earlier used to cost Rs 27, will be available for Rs 45. Chicken curry cost will soar from the earlier Rs 35 to Rs 55. Similarly, the price of mixed vegetables will go up from current Rs 10 to Rs 16 and dal, which earlier used to cost Rs 8, will become dearer by Rs 2 to cost Rs 10. Dosa, a South Indian delicacy and a favourite with most customers, will cost Rs 20 instead of Rs 14. Price of other food items will also be increased accordingly.

Arvind Kumar Rajak, senior divisional commercial manager, ECR, however, said no decision to hike the menu fee has been taken so far. “It’s true that Jan Ahaar has been handed over to the railways but no decision regarding menu fee hike has been taken so far,” said Rajak.

He further said: “The Indian Railways will ensure healthy and hygienic food is served at the stall. We will also change the current menu and add some extra food items.”

The Jan Ahaar stall, conceptualised by former railway minister Mamata Banerjee, has been earning around Rs 1.5 crore each year since it was opened on February 23, 2010.

Initially, the idea was to serve food to commuters for less than Rs 20 but later some changes were made in the price list. The decision to take over the control of Jan Ahaar from IRCTC was taken in July this year after the railways received complaints regarding the quality of food served at the kiosk, said sources.

Some MPs from Bihar had also lodged a complaint against IRCTC for serving stale food on New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express a few days ago.

Patna regional manager of IRCTC, Anand Kumar Jha, has been transferred to Delhi and his service has been extended till March 2012.

“The IRCTC has handed over the control of Jan Ahaar to the railways and we are no more responsible for the quality of food being served at the stalls. Till the time we were looking after it, we tried to serve the healthy food to the customers and I hope the practice will continue,” said Jha.

The railways’ decision, however, has not gone down well with the commuters. “It’s true that there were some problems with the quality of food being served by the IRCTC but if the railways has taken the decision to hike the food price, it’s surely not acceptable. The whole concept of Jan Ahaar is about serving quality food to train passengers on subsidised rate. That’s the reason why it’s called Jan Ahaar (food for common man). If the railways will charge Rs 50 and above for simple food, then there is no point eating at the Jan Ahaar stall,” said Ritesh Kumar, a passenger at Patna Junction.

Another passenger, Nilesh Sinha, who was having food at the Jan Ahaar stall today, said: “If the railways really hikes the prices, nobody will visit the Jan Ahaar stall. It’s better to bring homemade food instead of paying so much money.”