New Delhi: Indian Railways has imposed a penalty of ₹10 lakh on Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation after a passenger complained about the quality of food served on board the Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express.
The complaint, lodged on March 15, prompted an investigation by railway authorities. Following the inquiry, officials decided to take disciplinary action against the catering operator responsible for the service. In addition to the penalty on IRCTC, a much larger fine of ₹50 lakh has been imposed on the catering service provider linked to the incident. Authorities have also ordered termination of the contract with the concerned vendor.
Railway officials said the issue was treated with seriousness as passenger safety and service quality remain key priorities. The action reflects the railway administration’s effort to enforce accountability in onboard services and maintain high standards across its premium trains.
Data shared by the railway ministry highlights the scale of catering operations managed across the network. Indian Railways serves nearly 58 crore meals annually to passengers travelling on various trains. Despite the large volume of services, complaints related to food quality or overcharging represent a very small fraction of total transactions, averaging around 0.0008 percent.
Authorities have stated that complaints are investigated thoroughly and penalties are imposed when service standards are violated. Over the past three years, fines amounting to about ₹2.6 crore have been levied in connection with such complaints.
The ministry also reported that during 2025 there were three incidents involving alleged assaults on passengers by pantry car staff. In those cases, legal proceedings were initiated by the Government Railway Police against the individuals involved.
Meanwhile, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced additional reform measures aimed at improving railway operations and passenger experience. Under the ongoing “Reform Express” initiative, the government has approved five new reforms for 2026, bringing the total number introduced this year to nine.
The latest reforms cover multiple areas including cargo transport, infrastructure development and passenger convenience. One initiative focuses on improving railway logistics for salt transportation, an important sector for India, which produces nearly 35 million tonnes of salt annually. Currently, about 9.2 million tonnes of this output is transported through the railway network, leaving scope for further expansion.
