The Northern Railways that has been serving food to Parliamentarians for 52 years will leave the premises of the Parliament on November 15, handing over its reins to the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). 

A letter from the Lok Sabha Secretariat has asked the Northern Railways to pack up and move on from the Parliament by the mid of next month. The Nothern Railways, which has been serving food in the Parliament canteen since 1968, will be replaced by the ITDC, the government’s tourism arm, that runs the luxury five-star Ashok Group of hotels.  

The letter stated, “The competent Authority has desired that the operations of the catering units in Parliament House Estate (Parliament House Parliament House Annexe & Parliament Library Building and paties mide and outside PHE providing services to dignitaries) be taken over by ITDC 15.11 2020.” 

The process to find a new vendor for the Parliament canteen was started last year and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel and officials of ITDC to discuss the issue in  July this year. 

“The Northern Railway may, accordingly, hand over the electronic gadgets viz Computers Printer, etc. provided by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to ITDC and furniture items, equipment gadgets, etc to CPWD for being handed over by them to ITDC,” the letter further said.

Officials at ITDC said they have been instructed to keep a special focus on the “quality of food” that should suit both “common people as well as dignitaries”.

At present, the canteen serves around 5,000 people during every session. It has a total of 48 food items on its menu for lunch and evening snacks.

An end to subsidies is expected to lead to annual savings of approximately Rs 17 crore to Parliament.