Top News

How to open a food stall at a railway station? Know the rules of IRCTC

Samira Vishwas | August 13, 2026 10:24 AM CST

Railway Station Food Stall: Let us tell you that it is wrong to think this. Any person can open his shop by following the rules and service conditions. Tender is floated for these shops, for which common citizens can apply. IRCTC conducts this tender process.

How to open a shop at a railway station

IRCTC Application Rules Cost Details: These days people are earning a lot of money in business rather than in job. Everyone wants to start a business which gives good profits. Business can be done anywhere and on anything. You must have seen that tea, book stalls and food stalls are set up at railway stations. Shopkeepers earn good income every day from these businesses. Many people have plans to do similar business at railway stations, but they stop thinking that these stalls or shops are operated by the Railways.

Let us tell you that this thinking is wrong. Any person can open his shop by following the rules and service conditions. Tender is floated for these shops, for which common citizens can apply. IRCTC conducts this tender process. Let us know how to open your own shop at the railway station.

How to get space to open a shop at stations?

Tenders are floated by IRCTC at railway stations. Under these, shops like food stalls, general stores and book stalls are opened. Most of the shops are allotted through open tender or e-auction. For more information about this, you can check the online portal ‘E-Procurement System’. Application can be made through the official website of IRCTC or the portal of any zonal railway by going to the tender or e-auction section.

How to get a license to open your shop?

According to railway rules, the license of a food plaza is valid for 9 years and after that it becomes invalid. Whereas the license of food stall or catering is approved for 5 years.

To open your own shop at railway stations, you will have to apply for a license online.
But before applying, you will also have to get your Digital Signature (DSC) made.
After this you will have to search the tenders of your favorite stations and submit the necessary documents of the tender.
Then the prescribed fee will have to be deposited as security deposit. Only after this you can place the bid.
To apply and bid, you must have Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID, GST Registration (if applicable), Food License and Passport Size Photograph.
If we talk about fees, it can range from Rs 40 thousand to Rs 3 lakh.
When the tender process is completed, the highest bidder and the person who fulfills the eligibility conditions will be given the license to open his shop at the railway stations.