New Delhi, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian Railways has imposed penalties amounting to Rs 5.13 crore on catering contractors and terminated six contracts over violations related to food quality and hygiene standards during the past three years, the government informed Parliament on Friday.
Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, said the action against erring caterers also included issuing 54 show-cause notices and debarring several licensees found violating prescribed food safety norms.
The minister said complaints related to food quality constitute only a small proportion of the overall catering services provided by Indian Railways. The national transporter serves around 58 crore meals annually on average, while food quality-related complaints account for approximately 0.0008 per cent of the total meals served.
“The list of debarred licensees is published on the IRCTC website,” Vaishnaw said.
To strengthen food safety measures and improve passenger confidence, Indian Railways and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) have introduced several monitoring and quality-control mechanisms.
These include regular and surprise inspections by railway officials and Food Safety Officers to check food quality, hygiene standards, staff deployment, equipment maintenance and compliance with regulatory requirements.
The Railways has also increased the use of designated base kitchens and established modern kitchens at selected locations. CCTV cameras have been installed at base kitchens to enable real-time monitoring of food preparation, while Food Safety Supervisors have been deployed to ensure adherence to hygiene practices.
The minister said QR codes have been introduced on meal packets served on trains, allowing passengers to access information such as packing date, caterer details and FSSAI licence number by scanning the code.
Other initiatives include the use of branded raw materials, regular food sampling, pest-control measures, deep cleaning of pantry cars and kitchens, mandatory FSSAI certification, third-party audits and passenger satisfaction surveys.
Vaishnaw added that IRCTC also conducts regular training programmes for catering personnel, covering customer service, communication skills, personal hygiene and professional conduct.
He said Indian Railways remains committed to ensuring that passengers receive safe, hygienic and quality food during their journeys.
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