A cutting-edge, air-conditioned restaurant inside a railway coach is set to debut near the second entrance of Rourkela railway station in October, just in time for Durga Puja. This groundbreaking establishment will mark the very first railway coach restaurant in the state of Odisha.

Previously, these restaurants had been inaugurated in Nagpur, Maharashtra, and New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.

As per insider information, in January of this year, the Chakradharpur railway division issued a tender inviting interested bidders to establish an air-conditioned restaurant within a rail coach, located near the second entrance of Rourkela railway station. After a competitive bidding process, a Kolkata-based firm secured a 15-year lease contract for INR 2.5 crore. Under the terms of the agreement, the railway authorities provided the firm with an old coach and allocated a 250-square-meter area for the project. Subsequently, the contractor transformed the coach into a brand-new dining experience.

The interior work for the railway coach restaurant is currently in full swing and is expected to wrap up by the end of this month. This restaurant, equipped with a television, is designed to accommodate up to 48 patrons.

Additionally, two street food counters will be situated in close proximity to the railway coach restaurant. The ambiance will exude a rural charm, and a garden area will also be cultivated adjacent to the restaurant.