Indian Railways is embarking on a creative project titled “Beautiful Restaurants on Wheels” to convert retired train coaches into theme-based restaurants. The initiative is set to enhance the dining experience at railway stations in Jammu and Katra.
According to Prateek Srivastava, Divisional Transportation Manager in Jammu, the project involves refurbishing old train coaches and converting them into rail coach restaurants. Two AC restaurants are currently under development at Jammu and Katra stations, and tenders have been awarded to two different parties for their execution.
These rail-coach restaurants are expected to generate an annual revenue of ₹50 lakh each and will occupy an area of 1,600 square feet. The project allows private parties to design state-of-the-art restaurants within the refurbished coaches.
The first coach restaurant is anticipated to open its doors by December, with both restaurants set to be named ‘Annapurna’ and ‘Maa Durga.’ Pradeep Gupta, the owner of Annapurna Restaurant, mentioned that it takes approximately 90 days to convert a coach into a fully functional restaurant, equipped with all necessary facilities.
Similar rail-coach restaurants have already been successfully launched at major railway stations across India, including Jabalpur, Bhopal, Lucknow, and Varanasi.
The restaurants at Jammu and Katra railway stations will offer a variety of non-vegetarian dishes and will be fully air-conditioned. This unique dining concept has generated excitement among tourists, who anticipate a distinctive dining experience at the railway stations.
To further enhance the ambiance, the Railways’ Food-on-Wheels restaurants will feature stylish interiors and exteriors, along with display panels showcasing virtual tours of various destinations in Jammu and Kashmir. These panels will also highlight the cultural essence of Dograland, adding an educational and immersive aspect to the dining experience.
