IRCTC & QCI Partner to Boost Railway Food Safety
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is taking a decisive step to ensure that every meal served on trains and at stations meets the highest standards of hygiene. In a significant move to address passenger concerns regarding food quality, IRCTC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Quality Council of India (QCI) to implement an independent, technology-driven third-party audit mechanism.
This partnership, formalized on October 15, 2026, focuses on enhancing IRCTC food safety audits across all mobile catering units in trains and static units at railway stations. The initiative is designed to strictly adhere to the regulations set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
A Tech-Driven Approach to Transparency
To eliminate human error and ensure complete transparency, the audit process will rely heavily on digital infrastructure. QCI-certified professionals will use a dedicated mobile application to conduct inspections. This app will include advanced features such as:
- Geo-tagging: To verify the exact location of the inspection.
- Time-stamping: To ensure audits are conducted at the correct times.
- Photographic Evidence: To provide visual proof of hygiene levels and food conditions.
The audit reports are required to be submitted within 24 hours of the inspection. This rapid turnaround allows IRCTC to immediately identify deficiencies and initiate Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) against vendors who fail to comply with the standards.
Comprehensive Inspection Parameters
The unannounced quarterly and half-yearly inspections will not be superficial. QCI professionals will perform deep dives into several critical areas of catering operations, including:
- Food preparation and storage protocols.
- Staff medical fitness and personal hygiene.
- Strict segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items.
- Temperature-controlled storage management.
- Sanitation, pest control, and general hospitality practices.
Strengthening Vendor Accountability
For years, passengers have voiced grievances regarding stale food and a lack of accountability among catering vendors. This MoU is a direct response to those concerns. By introducing unannounced, third-party checks, IRCTC aims to ensure consistency in food quality across the vast railway network.
The agreement was signed by Sudhir Warrier, General Manager of Quality & Projects at IRCTC, and Subroto Ghosh, Principal Advisor and Head of Public Policy and International Development (PPID) at QCI. The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including IRCTC CMD Rahul Himalian, Director of Catering Services Manoj Kumar Sharma, NABL CEO Ramanand Nagendra Shukla, and QCI Assistant Secretary General Mohit Padhi.
Beyond immediate audits, the MoU also establishes a framework for future collaborative projects, such as specialized training programs for catering staff, passenger satisfaction surveys, and infrastructure audits to further modernize the railway dining experience.