Report

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced in the Lok Sabha that displaying food menus and price lists on trains is now mandatory. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has uploaded the complete menu and rates on its website for easy passenger access. Waiters carry printed menu cards and present them to passengers upon request. Pantry cars also display the rate list. To further enhance transparency, the Railways now sends SMS messages to passengers with a link to the catering menu and tariff details.

Strengthening Hygiene and Food Quality

Indian Railways has implemented several measures to improve food quality and hygiene in trains. Authorities have modernized designated base kitchens and installed CCTV cameras to monitor food preparation in real time. They ensure high-quality meals by sourcing raw materials like cooking oil, flour, rice, pulses, spices, paneer, and dairy products from reputed brands.

Food Safety and Monitoring Initiatives

Food safety supervisors now oversee hygiene practices in base kitchens, while onboard IRCTC supervisors monitor catering services on trains. Passengers can check QR codes on food packets to view details such as the kitchen of origin and packaging date. 0The Railways has intensified food safety efforts by conducting routine deep cleaning, pest control in kitchens and pantry cars, and enforcing mandatory FSSAI certification for all catering units. Officials conduct regular food sampling and inspections, and third-party audits assess hygiene and food quality in kitchens and trains.

Passenger Feedback and Continuous Improvement

To enhance services further, the Railways actively gathers passenger feedback through customer satisfaction surveys. These efforts demonstrate Indian Railways’ commitment to providing safe, hygienic, and high-quality meals to travellers.

Source: Hindustan Times