The Indian Railways has taken a strict stance against poor catering services on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express. Following a formal complaint regarding unhygienic food served on board, the Railway Board imposed a combined fine of 60 lakh on IRCTC and the private catering vendor. The incident involved contaminated food and expired dairy products, leading to the immediate termination of the vendor’s contract to ensure passenger safety.
What exactly happened on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat?
On March 15, 2026, a passenger named Abhishek Raj was traveling on train number 21896 when he discovered serious quality issues with his meal. The investigation confirmed that the dal served to the passenger contained insects. Furthermore, the curd provided was 11 days old and had already expired. A video recorded by the passenger showed that when the issue was raised, the onboard attendant initially tried to mislead him by claiming the insects in the curd were actually saffron or kesar. After the complaint went viral and reached the authorities, the Railway Board initiated a probe on March 25-26 and found the allegations to be true.
Details of the heavy fine and official action
The Railway Board found the food quality far below the prescribed safety standards and took decisive action against the responsible entities. The breakdown of the penalty and the disciplinary measures are as follows:
- Vendor Penalty: The catering service provider was fined 50 lakh for gross negligence.
- IRCTC Penalty: A fine of 10 lakh was imposed on IRCTC for failing to monitor the service.
- Contract Cancellation: The catering contract of the specific vendor has been terminated with immediate effect.
Railway officials emphasized that there is a zero-tolerance policy for any negligence regarding food quality. Directions have been issued for regular inspections and strict monitoring of pantry cars in all trains. Passengers are encouraged to report any such issues immediately through the official railway helpline or digital platforms.