In a significant move to prioritize passenger health and service standards, the Ministry of Railways has taken strict disciplinary action against catering contractors failing to meet hygiene benchmarks. Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that over the past three years, the national transporter has levied penalties amounting to ₹5.13 crore and terminated six catering contracts due to persistent quality and hygiene violations.
- Total Penalties: ₹5.13 crore collected from erring caterers.
- Contract Terminations: Six catering contracts cancelled for non-compliance.
- Show-Cause Notices: 54 notices issued to vendors for poor service standards.
- Accountability: Defaulting licensees have been blacklisted and listed on the IRCTC website.
Ensuring Passenger Safety and Food Standards
During a session in the Rajya Sabha on August 7, 2026, Minister Vaishnaw addressed concerns regarding onboard catering. He highlighted that while Indian Railways serves a massive volume of approximately 58 crore meals annually, the administration remains vigilant, noting that complaints regarding food quality account for a marginal 0.0008% of the total meals served. Despite this low percentage, the Ministry maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward unhygienic conditions in pantry cars.
Modernizing Catering Operations
To bridge the gap between service and quality, Indian Railways and IRCTC have rolled out a series of robust monitoring mechanisms. Key initiatives to ensure food safety include:
Real-time Monitoring: Modern base kitchens are now equipped with CCTV cameras, allowing officials to monitor food preparation processes remotely. Regular, surprise inspections by Food Safety Officers are conducted to ensure that hygiene protocols are strictly followed by catering staff.
Transparency for Passengers: A major step forward is the introduction of QR codes on meal packets. Passengers can scan these codes to instantly verify essential details such as the packing date and the vendor’s FSSAI license number. Additionally, all catering units are now required to hold mandatory FSSAI certification.
By deploying dedicated Food Safety Supervisors and conducting consistent training programs for catering personnel, Indian Railways is actively working to elevate the dining experience for millions of rail commuters across the country.