IRCTC received 6,645 complaints related to food quality in 2024-25
Of the total, in 2,995 cases warnings were issued, in 1,547 cases suitable advisories were given and other measures were taken in the remaining 762 cases, Vaishnaw said in the reply.
CPI(M) MP John Brittas raised the issues of food quality in trains and transparency in the award of contracts to companies.
When asked to provide details regarding instances of seizure of unhygienic food items from the railway caterers as well as complaints filed by passengers regarding the quality and safety of food served on trains in the last five years, the Railway Minister presented the data in a tabular form.
Vaishnaw said, 'Prompt and appropriate punitive action, including imposition of fines, disciplinary action, counselling, warning etc., is taken in case any instance of adulterated/unhygienic food or passenger complaint is reported.'
According to the data, in 2023-24, 2022-23, and 2021-22, the number of complaints received from passengers was 7,026, 4,421, and 1,082, respectively.
Brittas asked 'whether Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) awarded contracts across multiple railway routes, including Vande Bharat and other long-distance services, to a corporate group using multiple affiliate entities.'
In his reply, the Union minister said that the IRCTC regularly floats tenders to select service providers for the provision of onboard catering services in trains, including Vande Bharat and other long-distance trains.
'These tenders are awarded through a transparent process to the highest bidders as per the terms and conditions stipulated in the tender documents. The details of Letters of Award (LOA), issued to multiple service providers, are published on the website of IRCTC. At present, contracts of clusters of trains have been awarded by IRCTC to 20 entities,' Vaishnaw said. He provided various measures taken to maintain food quality, such as the supply of meals from designated Base Kitchens, commissioning of modern Base Kitchens at identified locations, Installation of CCTV Cameras in Base Kitchens, shortlisting and use of popular and branded raw materials, deployment of Food Safety Supervisors at Base Kitchens to monitor food safety and hygienic practices among others.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
12 minutes ago
- News18
Another Rate Cut On The Cards? FinMin Estimates FY26 Inflation To Undershoot RBI's 3.7% Forecast
Last Updated: Retail inflation in FY26 might be below RBI's 3.7% forecast, says Finance Ministry's June review. The Finance Ministry, in its June economic review, has estimated that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), also known as retail inflation, may stay below the RBI's projection of 3.7 per cent, further opening up a wide space for the continuation of the RBI's rate-easing cycle. 'It appears likely that the full fiscal year inflation rate would undershoot the central bank's expectation of 3.7%," the ministry noted, adding that this could support a continuation of the RBI's rate easing cycle. 'Core inflation remains subdued, and overall inflation is comfortably below the RBI's 4% target, affording room for the easing cycle to be sustained," the report stated. The ministry also highlighted that the RBI has projected headline inflation at 3.4% for the second quarter of FY26, while actual inflation in Q1 came in below the internal target. Retail inflation or Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for the month of June 2025 has hit an over 6-year low of 2.10%, according to latest data released by the government. This marks the lowest year-on-year inflation since January 2019. Inflation in May 2025 stood at 2.82%. Food inflation experienced a substantial decrease of 205 basis points in June 2025 compared to May 2025, reaching its lowest level since January 2019. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
FirstUp: Op Sindoor debate in Rajya Sabha, IMF to publish report on world economy... Top news today
The Rajya Sabha will hold a special debate on the Operation Sindoor today, with the Opposition likely demanding a detailed explanation of the operation's objectives. This comes a day after the Lok Sabha debate. The IMF will publish its latest World Economic Outlook, a comprehensive analysis of the global economic situation read more A debate will take place in the the Upper House of Parliament over India's Operation Sindoor. Representational Image/PTI It is set to be a busy Tuesday with several events lined up for the day. Firstly, a debate will take place in the Rajya Sabha over Operation Sindoor today. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will publish its report on the world economy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet King Abdullah II of Jordan today. The National Disaster Management Authority, along with the Indian Army and state governments, will conduct large-scale disaster management exercises from today. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Twin meteor showers, the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids, are expected to peak simultaneously today. Here are all the events that will take place today. Operation Sindoor debate in Rajya Sabha The Upper House of the Parliament, Rajya Sabha, is set to hold a special debate on Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The debate was agreed upon by both the government and the opposition. The session will follow a similar marathon discussion in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 28) and aims to examine national security, intelligence, and diplomatic implications. The government is expected to face intense scrutiny from the Opposition benches, who are likely to demand a detailed explanation of the operation's objectives, its precise geographical scope, the forces involved, and, crucially, the outcomes and any potential implications for regional stability. IMF to publish report on world economy The International Monetary Fund is set to release its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) update, providing a comprehensive analysis of the global economic situation, offering revised growth forecasts, inflation projections, and assessments of key economic risks and opportunities for countries worldwide. The International Monetary Fund is set to release its latest World Economic Outlook update. File image/AP The July update is particularly crucial as it follows a period of significant global economic uncertainty. Analysts and policymakers will be closely scrutinising the report for the IMF's revised GDP growth forecasts, especially given persistent inflation concerns, varying monetary policy stances across major economies, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. The update will likely detail how these factors are impacting different regions and highlight potential divergences in economic performance. German Chancellor to meet Jordan's King Abdullah II German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is scheduled to meet Jordan's King Abdullah II today during a visit to Berlin. The discussions between Chancellor Merz and King Abdullah II are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation across various sectors, including economic partnerships, development aid, and security collaboration. A significant portion of the talks will undoubtedly be dedicated to recent developments in West Asia, particularly the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the broader humanitarian situation. Both leaders have previously emphasised the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza, and a political solution based on the two-state solution. King Abdullah II has been a prominent voice on these issues, and Merz recently urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to provide aid to 'starving' civilians in Gaza. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Disaster mock drill in Delhi-NCR Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) will witness a massive multi-agency disaster management exercise, 'Exercise Suraksha Chakra.' This large-scale drill will be spearheaded by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the Indian Army and the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. School students participate in a mock drill. File image/PTI The four-day exercise, which runs until August 1, aims to significantly strengthen coordination and response mechanisms for major disaster scenarios, specifically during large-scale earthquakes and industrial chemical hazards. The drill is structured in phases, moving from strategic planning to on-ground action. Twin meteor showers to light up skies Two meteor showers, the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids, are expected to peak simultaneously today across the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Delta Aquariids are typically active from mid-July to mid-August, reaching their peak around late July. They originate from the debris left by Comet 96P/Machholz. Under ideal conditions, this shower can produce up to 20 meteors per hour. Sharing the sky, the Alpha Capricornids are a smaller, but often more dramatic, shower. Active from early July to mid-August, they peak around the same time as the Southern Delta Aquariids. This shower is notable for producing bright fireballs, even if their hourly rate is lower. With inputs from agencies
Deccan Herald
8 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
FinMin sees room for more rate cuts as inflation remains below RBI's target
Retail inflation, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI), has remained below 4 per cent since February and dipped further to more than six-year-low of 2.82 per cent in May.
