Railway Minister Addresses Food Quality Issues in Trains

In response to complaints about food quality and hygiene in Indian Railways, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced fines totaling ₹51.3 million over three years. He addressed concerns raised by MP Chandrakant Handore regarding the standards of meals served on premium trains. Vaishnaw emphasized the commitment of Indian Railways to provide high-quality food and outlined various measures being implemented to enhance food safety and cleanliness. These include modern base kitchens, real-time monitoring, and the introduction of digital payment options in pantry cars. This information was shared during a session in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting ongoing efforts to improve passenger services.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 3, 2026, 22:26 IST

Concerns Over Food Quality in Indian Railways

New Delhi, August 3 - Following numerous complaints regarding the poor quality of food and unsanitary conditions in pantry cars, service providers have faced fines totaling ₹51.3 million over the past three years. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this information in the Rajya Sabha. Congress MP Chandrakant Handore raised concerns about the quality of meals served on premium trains, inquiring about the number of complaints related to substandard food, unclean pantry cars, and inadequate hospitality services during this period.

Handore also questioned whether any legal actions had been taken against IRCTC license holders for overcharging and serving low-quality or insufficient meals. In his written response on Friday, Vaishnaw stated, "Indian Railways receives an average of only 0.0008 percent complaints regarding the food served each year. Based on the investigations into these complaints over the last three years, fines amounting to ₹51.3 million have been imposed."

The Railway Minister emphasized that Indian Railways is committed to providing passengers with high-quality and hygienic food in accordance with established standards. He noted that necessary measures are regularly implemented to ensure this.

Vaishnaw highlighted several initiatives aimed at improving food quality, hygiene, and food safety. These include the establishment of modern base kitchens at designated locations, the supply of food from these kitchens, and the installation of CCTV cameras in base kitchens to monitor food preparation processes in real-time.

Additionally, the Minister provided insights into efforts to promote electronic billing and digital payments on trains. He mentioned that Point of Sale (POS) machines are being installed in pantry cars to facilitate digital billing and cashless transactions. Various digital payment options, including UPI, QR codes, and swipe machines, are also available in pantry cars.

This response from the Railway Minister was made available on the Rajya Sabha's website on Monday.