Railways Fines IRCTC Over Vande Bharat Food
Indian Railways has imposed a total penalty of Rs 60 lakh after a complaint about poor-quality food served on a Vande Bharat Express, in one of the strongest recent actions taken over onboard catering standards. The action followed a passenger complaint on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express, prompting the Railways to penalise both IRCTC and the private service provider linked to the catering lapse.
Vande Bharat Food Quality Row Triggers Railway Action
Railways imposed a Rs 10 lakh penalty on IRCTC after taking note of the complaint over food quality on train number 21896, the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express. The issue was treated as a serious service failure on a premium train service, where catering standards are expected to be closely maintained.
IRCTC Contractor Fined Rs 50 Lakh
Apart from the fine on IRCTC, the concerned onboard service provider was hit with a much larger Rs 50 lakh penalty. Reports also said the Railways directed IRCTC to terminate the contractor’s agreement, signalling a stricter approach to accountability in train catering operations. The action indicates that the Railways is seeking to fix responsibility not only at the corporation level but also at the vendor level.
Indian Railways Tightens Food Safety Standards
Railway officials said passenger safety and food quality remain top priorities. The crackdown comes amid wider efforts to improve service quality on premium trains, especially Vande Bharat services that are marketed as faster and more modern travel options. The case has again drawn attention to food hygiene, quality checks and vendor monitoring in railway catering.
Complaint Puts Focus On Premium Train Services
The incident has put the spotlight on how complaints on premium train routes are handled. By imposing a combined Rs 60 lakh penalty and ordering contract action, the Railways has sent a message that poor food quality on flagship services will invite direct financial and operational consequences.
