Duronto lunch service hit as staff cease work

KOLKATA: Food service to Howrah-Mumbai Duronto Express passengers was delayed on Monday after on-board catering staff began an agitation over three hours after the train began its journey . The IRCTC struggled to get staffers to serve lunch to passengers.
Casual workers who serve food had started an agitation on Sunday after they were asked to work under an agency engaged by IRCTC.Matters took an ugly turn at Sealdah on Sunday evening after some casual employees assaulted two IRCTC managers, leading to 11arrests.
“On Monday , catering staff for the Howrah-Mumbai Duronto reported for duty as normal. We allowed them to board only after they agreed to serve passengers. Trouble started when the train reached Tatanagar around 11.45 am. One of the casual workers called up and said they are apprehensive of losing their jobs. I told him not to worry . Soon after this, a manager informed me the workers were refusing to serve. It was nearly lunchtime and we had to get some people from Tatanagar. We also got some people from Jharsuguda and ordered the agitating workers to get off at Bilaspur,“ said Debashis Chandra, group general manager (east), IRCTC.
The workers were demanding withdrawal of the FIR against 11 of their colleagues.IRCTC officials said they had nothing to do with the FIR. The assault on the managers had taken place in the presence of RPF personnel and senior railway officials.
Nearly 700 casual workers are required to serve food to passengers on trains. IRCTC can only come up with 70-80 persons to serve passengers.
On Monday evening, nearly 200 casual workers turned up to demonstrate at Sealdah before the New Delhi Duronto started.They weren't allowed to enter the platform, though, and the train left on time with a temporary crew of servers on board.