New Delhi | July 26, 2025 —
Passengers across India filed 6,645 complaints related to poor food quality on trains in the financial year 2024–25, with fines imposed in 1,341 cases, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply on Friday.
In response to a question by CPI-M MP John Brittas, the minister laid out the details of action taken in such cases, noting that:
2,995 cases resulted in warnings issued to caterers,
1,547 cases involved suitable advisories, and
762 cases prompted other disciplinary measures.
The data, presented in tabular form, also showed a significant rise in food-related grievances over recent years:
2023–24: 7,026 complaints
2022–23: 4,421 complaints
2021–22: 1,082 complaints
Concerns Over Transparency and Contracts
Brittas also raised concerns over the transparency in catering contracts, specifically asking whether IRCTC had awarded multiple contracts across long-distance services like Vande Bharat to a single corporate group using affiliate entities.
In response, Vaishnaw said that IRCTC follows a transparent bidding process, with contracts awarded to the highest eligible bidders. He added, “Details of Letters of Award (LOA) issued to various service providers are available on the IRCTC website. Currently, 20 entities hold catering contracts for clusters of trains.”
Steps to Ensure Food Safety
Highlighting reforms in onboard catering, the minister listed various initiatives:
Supply from designated Base Kitchens
Modernization of kitchens at key railway stations
CCTV surveillance in food preparation areas
Use of branded raw materials
Deployment of Food Safety Supervisors at kitchens
Regular inspections to enforce hygiene norms
“Prompt and appropriate punitive action, including fines, counselling, and warnings, is taken whenever complaints of adulterated or unhygienic food are received,” Vaishnaw affirmed.
The issue of food quality on trains remains a key concern for passengers, especially amid the rising popularity of semi-high-speed services like Vande Bharat Express, where onboard service is a critical aspect of the travel experience.
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