In a bid to enhance transparency and improve food quality in trains, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that displaying food menus and rate lists for passengers is now mandatory. The move aims to curb overpricing, ensure fair pricing, and improve catering services across Indian Railways.
"Menu of all food items along with rates are available on IRCTC’s website for passengers' information. Printed menu cards with all details are provided with waiters and shown to passengers on demand," Vaishnaw stated in a written reply. He further added that rate lists will also be prominently displayed in pantry cars to ensure passengers are well-informed.
Taking the initiative further, Indian Railways has started sending SMS alerts to passengers, providing a direct link to the menu and pricing of catering services. This step is expected to prevent unauthorized price hikes by vendors and improve customer satisfaction.
Major Steps Taken to Improve Food Quality & Hygiene
Addressing concerns about food safety and hygiene, the Railway Minister highlighted several measures undertaken to enhance catering standards:
Base Kitchens & Hygiene Monitoring: Meals will be supplied from designated base kitchens, with modern base kitchens being set up at key locations. Additionally, CCTV cameras have been installed in these kitchens for real-time monitoring of food preparation.
Use of Branded Ingredients: The shortlisting of trusted brands for essential food materials, such as cooking oil, atta, rice, pulses, spices, paneer, and dairy products, has been implemented to ensure quality.
Deployment of Food Safety Supervisors: Dedicated food safety supervisors have been placed at base kitchens to enforce strict hygiene and food preparation protocols.
On-Board Supervisors & QR Codes: IRCTC supervisors will now be deployed on trains to oversee food services. Additionally, QR codes on food packets will allow passengers to check vital details like the name of the kitchen and the packaging date, improving transparency.
