Complaints about food quality and hygiene on Indian Railways have surged from 1,192 in March 2022 to 6,948 between April 2023 and February 2024—a 500% increase. The figures include complaints from premium services like Vande Bharat and Rajdhani trains.
Despite issuing 68 show cause notices and canceling three contracts, the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) reports a decrease in the complaint rate per meal, from 0.0029% to 0.0012%. Persistent issues with food quality were highlighted in a 2017 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.
In response, the Railway Board is implementing stricter quality checks, improving meal announcements, and enforcing penalties for violations. The IRCTC is also working on modern base kitchens to enhance food safety and quality.
