Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed alarming statistics about train food quality in the Rajya Sabha, disclosing that Indian Railways received 6,645 complaints regarding food quality served on trains in the financial year 2024-25. This revelation has sparked renewed discussions about passenger safety and catering standards across India’s vast railway network.
The disclosure came in response to a question raised by CPI(M) MP John Brittas, highlighting the persistent challenges facing railway catering services despite ongoing reforms and monitoring initiatives.
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Railway Food Complaints: Year-wise Breakdown
The food quality complaint trend shows significant variations over recent years, indicating both improving awareness among passengers and persistent quality issues.
| Financial Year | Total Complaints | Percentage Change | Action Taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 1,082 | – | Baseline year |
| 2022-23 | 4,421 | +308% | Enhanced monitoring |
| 2023-24 | 7,026 | +59% | Stricter penalties |
| 2024-25 | 6,645 | -5.4% | Comprehensive reforms |
The data reveals that complaints peaked at 7,026 in 2023-24, compared to 4,421 in 2022-23 and 1,082 in 2021-22, showing a concerning upward trend before the recent marginal decline.
Government’s Response: Actions and Penalties
Railway Minister Vaishnaw emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing food quality issues through comprehensive punitive measures. Out of the 6,645 complaints in 2024-25, fines were imposed on food suppliers in 1,341 cases, while warnings were issued in 2,995 cases.
The Minister stated that “Prompt and appropriate punitive action, including imposition of fines, disciplinary action, counselling, warning etc., is taken in case any instance of adulterated/unhygienic food or passenger complaint is reported.”
Five-Year Enforcement Statistics
Over the past five years, IRCTC has taken robust measures including imposing fines in 3,137 cases, issuing 9,627 warnings, and giving 4,467 advisories to vendors. Additionally, the corporation has installed CCTV cameras in kitchen areas to ensure better monitoring.
Recent data from April to October 2024 shows that Railways fined contractors more than ₹4.40 crore, with individual fines ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹10 lakh per incident.
Quality Control Measures and Monitoring Systems
Indian Railways has implemented several technological solutions to address food quality concerns. The installation of CCTV cameras in preparation areas represents a significant step toward transparency and accountability in railway catering.
The official Railway complaint portal allows passengers to register complaints and track their status through reference numbers, contact details, and email verification.
For comprehensive coverage of transportation policies and passenger rights, visit TechnoSports.co.in’s Transport section for the latest updates on railway reforms and passenger safety measures.
Persistent Challenges in Railway Catering
Despite enforcement measures, specific incidents continue to highlight systemic issues. Between April 2023 and February 2024, 123 complaints were received regarding stale food and food items containing dead insects, flies, and cockroaches being served to passengers on Vande Bharat trains.
This data underscores the need for more stringent quality control measures and regular auditing of catering services across all train categories.
Future Initiatives and Passenger Rights
The railway ministry continues to work toward improving food safety standards through enhanced vendor accountability and passenger grievance mechanisms. Railways maintains that it is their “continuous endeavour to provide good quality and hygienic food to passengers as per norms and standards prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India”.
Passengers can file complaints through multiple channels, including the official Ministry of Railways complaint portal and mobile applications designed for quick grievance registration.
For detailed analysis of government accountability measures and passenger rights initiatives, explore our Policy Analysis section on TechnoSports.co.in.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How can passengers file complaints about railway food quality?
A1: Passengers can file food quality complaints through multiple channels including the official Railway complaint portal, mobile apps, and social media platforms. The online system allows tracking of complaint status through reference numbers and provides direct communication with railway authorities for resolution.
Q2: What actions does Indian Railways take against food suppliers after receiving complaints?
A2: Indian Railways implements a comprehensive action plan including monetary fines (ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹10 lakh), warnings, advisories, and in severe cases, contract termination. In 2024-25, fines were imposed in 1,341 cases out of 6,645 complaints, while warnings were issued in 2,995 cases, demonstrating strict enforcement of food safety standards.
