There is nothing like a steaming cup of chai and some batatavada to beat the boredom of having to wait for a trainat the station. Of course you can always browse through the books and magazines being sold at the station, until the vendor recognises you as one of those who will read the entire magazine without buying it.

But chai and nasta was not available for the passengers at the Kalupur railway station in Ahmedabad on Friday. The reason: All India Catering Contractors Association (AICCA) on Friday called for a strike to protest Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) asking the catering contractors to vacate their stalls by October 31 and begin an open tender for the new contract. The association also has the backing of renowned social activist Medha Patkar.

On Friday afternoon, the contractors shut their stalls as a part of a strike that is being simultaneously implemented across the country.

Of the 28 catering stallsat Kalupur railway station,18 were shut down leaving the passengers to fend for themselves. The IRCTC's move is likely to affect hundreds of contractors and labourers working at the stalls.

According to Tejdeep Singh, a contractor, IRCTC's move will particularly hit small contractors who are in the business for generations.He said that IRCTCofficials have ordered these contractors to vacate their units by October 31. Before implementing the open tender policy, the licenses for stalls at various stations were given on the basis of yearly income.

After the railway board gave a nod for the tender process, the IRCTC invited tenders in 2006. But the allotment is yet to be done. However, from November 1 onwards the process is likely to get going.Another contractor Karan Singh said that some four years ago IRCTC had started giving contracts on the basis of tenders which was challenged by the existing contractors.The matter went to Supreme Court and recently the apex court had said that IRCTC should come to a conclusion on the issue.

Singh said even railway minister Mamta Banerjee had assured that a status quo will be maintained on this matter. "However, the IRCTC officials decided to go ahead with their anti-people policy," he said. He said the move of the corporation is monopolistic.

Meanwhile, passengers had an uncomfortable time with nothing on offer at the station. Although some stalls were open they were not serving the passengers. Chief regional manager of IRCTC, Ahmedabad, Pravin Parmar said that the move is irrational."In 2005, the railway board (New Delhi) decided to start the open tender process. With this system the highest bidder will get the contract," Parmar said.

He said that he can't do anything as this is a policy matter. According to Ashok Gadud, divisional Railway Manager, Ahmedabad division, because of the strike, passengers were inconvenienced. However, he said that the passengers were served by the department's catering kitchen which reduced their troubles to some extent.

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