Key Development 

Passengers filed 6,645 food complaints about poor food quality on trains during 2024–25. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that officials responded with the following actions:

• Imposed fines on food suppliers in 1,341 cases
• Issued warnings in 2,995 cases
• Delivered advisories in 1,547 cases
• Took corrective steps in 762 cases

The Minister emphasised that these measures reflect the Railways’ commitment to food safety and customer satisfaction.

Passenger Complaints Rise Over Five Years

Mr. Vaishnaw shared data showing how complaint numbers changed over recent years:

• 2023–24: 7,026 complaints
• 2022–23: 4,421 complaints
• 2021–22: 1,082 complaints

He noted that better complaint systems and stronger oversight encouraged passengers to report more food-related issues.

IRCTC Ensures Transparency in Catering Contracts

To address concerns over catering contracts, Mr. Vaishnaw clarified how IRCTC manages the process. He stated:

• IRCTC floats open tenders and awards contracts to the highest bidders
• IRCTC publishes all Letters of Award (LOAs) on its website
• As of now, 20 entities hold catering contracts across various train clusters

He assured the House that this process guarantees fair competition and transparency.

Railways Tighten Food Quality Controls

The Railways launched several initiatives to ensure hygienic and safe meals on board. According to Mr. Vaishnaw, they:

• Supply meals from approved Base Kitchens
• Operate modern Base Kitchens at major railway hubs
• Install CCTV cameras in kitchens to monitor hygiene
• Use branded ingredients in meal preparation
• Deploy Food Safety Supervisors to oversee cleanliness
• Conduct audits and inspections regularly

Mr. Vaishnaw confirmed that teams penalise, counsel, or discipline vendors whenever they detect unhygienic or substandard food, or receive verified complaints.

Source: NDTV