New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that the Indian Railways has imposed a fine of Rs 5.13 crore on service providers following inquiries into complaints of poor food quality and unhygienic pantry cars over the last three years.
In a written reply in the Upper House, Vaishnaw said Indian Railways serves an average of about 58 crore meals every year, of which only 0.0008 per cent complaints are received on average. “Based on inquiry on these complaints during the last three years, a fine of Rs 5.13 crore has been imposed,” the minister stated.
He emphasised that the Railways continuously endeavours to provide good quality and hygienic food items to passengers as per prescribed norms, and takes necessary steps from time to time to ensure the same.
Among the measures highlighted by the minister to improve quality, hygiene and food safety are the supply of meals from designated base kitchens, the commissioning of modern base kitchens at identified locations, and the installation of CCTV cameras in base kitchens for real-time monitoring of food preparation.
Vaishnaw also pointed to steps promoting electronic billing and digital payments on trains. These include the installation of Point of Sale (POS) machines in pantry cars to facilitate digital billing and cashless transactions, along with multiple options such as UPI, QR codes and swipe machines available in pantry cars.
The information was shared in response to a question by Congress MP Chandrakant Handore, who had raised concerns about food quality on premium trains.
Handore sought details on the number of complaints received regarding poor food quality, unhygienic pantry cars and hospitality deficits in premium and express trains during the last three years, as well as statutory action taken against IRCTC licensees found guilty of overcharging or serving substandard food or less than the prescribed quantities.