ET reported that an inter deparmental collaboration is under way as the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation the catering arm of the giant public sector undertaking is opening up stand alone cafes and restaurants at petrol pumps owned and operated by PSU oil companies.

For starters, IRCTC has opened the first such restaurant at a Hindustan Petroleum Corporation petrol pump at Loni, near Pune. It plans to rope in the other state owned oil marketing companies, IOC and BPCL.

An IRCTC official said that “Branding of these restaurants is expected to be unveiled shortly adding that they plan to open 60 such restaurants across the country by March 2012. A third of these restaurants are expected to be in Maharashtra and Gujarat, targeting the busy highways in the two states. The restaurants will utilise the open land at the petrol pumps of the three oil companies.”

The official further said that "Since these outlets are outside railways' premises, we cannot use the Indian Railways' tag. This is a new brand under the IRCTC banner.”

He added that the investment per restaurant varies depending on whether the structure is open or built up etc. The restaurant at Loni is a 40 seater multi cuisine place.

(Sourced from ET)