The model of the proposed IRCTC food court outside Patna Junction. Telegraph picture

Patna, July 14: The proposed food court outside Patna Junction has hit a roadblock after the Union ministry of railways asked Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to follow the franchise system and put on hold all its upcoming projects.

The foundation stone of the food court was supposed to be laid on August 5.

“The Indian Railways has asked IRCTC to apply the franchisee system to its new units. The order says the tenders floated for food plazas, food units and food courts should be scrapped with immediate effect,” a source said.

The source said: “The Railway Board is yet to finalise the franchise module. But till it arrives on a decision, all the proposed new food plazas, food courts and food units would be kept on hold.”

The new food court at Patna Junction would have offered railway passengers food of different tastes. There would have been takeaway facility for passengers. Besides, the dishes served there would have been hygienic.

Expressing disappointment over the railway’s decision, regular commuter Manjhi Kumar said: “When I heard a food court would come up on the area used for urinating, I was very happy. First, the nauseating stench of urine would have vanished. Second, we could have relished different delicacies in the food court. Now, I don’t think the food court would ever come up. After a long time, the railway was doing a good work for the masses. But even that has been put under suspension now.”

Another commuter said: “The food court would have offered us a better option for snacks and meals. We could have even packed food for the journey from it. But all those options have been purged now.”

A source in the railway said: “The food court was about to open in a month. It would have been a very good food outlet for the passengers. IRCTC had made the design for the food court. Almost everything was ready. Now keeping the project in abeyance would surely affect both IRCTC and the passengers.”

The decision of Indian Railways has not just sent the upcoming food court in Patna to the backburner. IRCTC had planned food hubs at 40 locations across the state, including Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Raxaul, Danapur, Katihar, Saharsa, Darbhanga and Begusarai. All of them have been hit by the decision of the Ministry of Railways.

The source said: “IRCTC has spent more than Rs 20 lakh on these projects. The monthly revenue of a food court is around Rs 1 lakh. Had the projects been not put on hold, they would have earned Rs 40 lakh for the railway every month.”