Photos, location, and time will all be recorded on trains—no more irregularities in food service.
Photos, location, and time will all be recorded on trains—no more irregularities in food service.
To improve the quality of food served on trains and at railway stations, the Railways will conduct surprise inspections. Under an agreement between the IRCTC and the Quality Council of India (QCI), a digital record—including photographs, location, and timestamps—will be maintained.
If you have ever been concerned about the quality and hygiene of the food served during train journeys, there is good news for you. Indian Railways is stepping up its monitoring to enhance the quality of food provided on trains and at railway stations. As part of this initiative, surprise inspections will be carried out to detect any irregularities. These checks will cover the entire process—from the hygiene standards maintained during food preparation to how it is served to passengers.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has entered into an agreement with the Quality Council of India (QCI). Under this arrangement, independent experts will inspect catering units and food-related operations on trains. Crucially, a digital record—comprising photographs, location data, and timestamps—will be created during these inspections. This will help identify vendors who violate regulations, enabling appropriate action to be taken against them.
How will food quality be inspected?
Certified professionals from the Quality Council of India (QCI) will conduct inspections without prior notice.
The process will cover food preparation and service arrangements at railway station catering units and on board trains.
Assessments will focus on food quality, hygiene standards, and compliance with food safety regulations.
Inspectors will document their findings using a mobile application.
It will be mandatory to capture photographs, record the location, and log the time during each inspection.
An audit report must be submitted within 24 hours of the inspection's completion.
What action will be taken if irregularities are found?
This initiative by the Railways is primarily a response to the numerous complaints received from passengers regarding food quality and hygiene. Catering vendors who fail to comply with the rules may face actions ranging from the imposition of fines to the termination of their contracts.
Notably, over the past three years, the IRCTC has imposed a total of ₹5.13 crore in fines on vendors for irregularities related to catering services. Furthermore, 54 show-cause notices were issued, and six contracts were terminated. Additionally, certain licenses held by those who violated the rules have been banned.
