54 Show-Cause Notices Issued Over Food Safety and Hygiene Lapses; Railways Expands CCTV, FSSAI Compliance, QR-Enabled Meal Tracking and Multi-Level Inspections

New Delhi, August 7, 2026: Indian Railways has imposed fines totalling ₹5.13 crore, issued 54 show-cause notices and terminated six catering contracts over food quality and hygiene violations during the last three years, highlighting a tightening of food safety oversight across railway catering operations.

The action has been taken by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) based on complaints and findings from inspections. Defaulting licensees have also been debarred, with the list published on the IRCTC website.

According to the Ministry of Railways, Indian Railways serves approximately 58 crore meals annually, while food-quality-related complaints account for around 0.0008% of meals served on average.

Key Highlights

• ₹5.13 crore in fines imposed over the last three years.
• 54 show-cause notices issued to catering operators.
• 6 contracts terminated for food quality and hygiene violations.
• Defaulting licensees debarred from railway catering operations.
• Around 58 crore meals served annually by Indian Railways.
• QR codes introduced on meal packets for greater transparency.
• CCTV surveillance installed in base kitchens.
• FSSAI certification made mandatory for catering operations.
• Regular and surprise inspections conducted by Railway and IRCTC officials, including Food Safety Officers.
• Third-party audits and food sampling form part of the monitoring system.

Railways Steps Up Food Safety Monitoring

Indian Railways said it has strengthened its catering infrastructure through designated and modernised Base Kitchens, where food preparation is monitored through CCTV cameras and Food Safety Supervisors.

The system also includes the deployment of on-board IRCTC supervisors to monitor catering services during train journeys. Regular deep cleaning and pest-control measures are undertaken in base kitchens and pantry cars.

Meal packets supplied on trains now carry QR codes containing information such as the packing date, licensee name and FSSAI licence number. The move is intended to give passengers greater visibility into the source and compliance status of their meals.

Railways has also introduced regular food sampling, third-party audits of pantry cars and base kitchens, and customer satisfaction surveys as part of its quality-control framework.

Focus on Catering Staff and Service Standards

The food-safety measures extend beyond kitchen operations. IRCTC conducts regular training for catering staff covering customer service, communication, courteous behaviour, service standards, personal grooming and hygiene.

The inspection mechanism covers food safety, staff deployment, equipment maintenance, cleanliness, food handling, storage and preparation practices.

The ministry said both regular and surprise inspections are being conducted to ensure compliance with prescribed food safety and hygiene standards.

What It Means for Hospitality and Travel

The move is significant for the wider hospitality, foodservice and travel industry, particularly as railway catering serves one of the country’s largest captive food-service audiences.

The increased use of traceability, QR-based information, CCTV monitoring, FSSAI compliance and third-party audits points towards a broader shift in institutional foodservice towards greater accountability and transparency.

For hospitality and F&B operators, the railway model also reinforces the growing importance of documented food-safety processes, kitchen hygiene, staff training, supplier controls and traceability in large-scale food operations.

For travellers, stronger monitoring could improve confidence in railway catering, particularly on long-distance journeys where onboard food is an important part of the passenger experience.

The measures also underline the importance of food quality as part of the overall travel experience, linking transportation, foodservice and tourism more closely.

The information was provided by Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on August 7.