Lok Sabha Question No. 1450 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Over Charging of Food
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1450 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## OVER CHARGING OF FOOD

## 1450. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  caterers  have  been  found  over  charging  for  food  items  in trains;
- (b)  if so, the details of action taken against them, zone-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  revoke  their  contracts permanently; and
- (d)  if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) and (b): In its endeavour to provide quality and hygienic food to the passengers, Railways have developed and operationalized an institutionalized  mechanism  for  monitoring  of  quality  and  hygiene  of catering services through regular inspections at various levels to address catering complaints. Zone-wise total number of complaints of overcharging of food items in trains received by the Railways and action taken thereon during the last and current  Financial Year (i.e. 01.04.2016 to 31.10.2017) are appended.

(c)  and  (d):    Providing  quality  catering  service  under  both  mobile  and static catering units at the prescribed tariff is the aim of the Railways. Checking of quality, quantity and overcharging of food is an integral part of  its  inspection  which  is  being  done  regularly  by  Railway  officials.  All complaints  are  dealt  strictly  and  action  including  monitory  penalty, debarring and termination of contract is taken as per the gravity of the complaint and decisions are taken on case to case basis.  Accordingly, during the current Financial Year (i.e. April to October 2017), 12 catering contracts have been terminated and 08 contractors have been blacklisted/debarred for complaint related to catering or other contractual deficiencies.

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APPENDIX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a)  AND (b) OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  1450  BY  SHRI  KODIKUNNIL  SURESH  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 27.12.2017 REGARDING OVER CHARGING OF FOOD (a) and  (b):  Zone-wise  total  number  of  complaints  of  overcharging  of  food items in trains received by the Railways and action taken thereon during the last and current  Financial Year (i.e. 01.04.2016 to 31.10.2017) are as under:-

|                      |                            | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken        | Action Taken        | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   |
|----------------------|----------------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------------|---------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| Zonal Railway        | Total Number of Complaints | Fined          | Warned         | Termination    | Suitability Advised | Not Substanti- ated | D & A R Action | Any Other      | Pending        | Total          |
| Central              | 877                        | 651            | 28             | 1              | 13                  | 27                  | 1              | 154            | 2              | 877            |
| East Central         | 885                        | 391            | 223            | 0              | 10                  | 147                 | 0              | 114            | 0              | 885            |
| East Coast           | 498                        | 250            | 210            | 0              | 25                  | 0                   | 0              | 13             | 0              | 498            |
| Eastern              | 543                        | 348            | 120            | 0              | 6                   | 68                  | 0              | 0              | 1              | 543            |
| North Central        | 279                        | 234            | 12             | 0              | 7                   | 25                  | 1              | 0              | 0              | 279            |
| North Eastern        | 202                        | 108            | 34             | 0              | 0                   | 60                  | 0              | 0              | 0              | 202            |
| Northeast Frontier   | 87                         | 57             | 13             | 0              | 1                   | 12                  | 0              | 4              | 0              | 87             |
| Northern             | 392                        | 260            | 20             | 0              | 14                  | 30                  | 3              | 57             | 8              | 392            |
| North Western        | 483                        | 370            | 18             | 0              | 11                  | 3                   | 0              | 81             | 0              | 483            |
| South Central        | 44                         | 29             | 7              | 0              | 8                   | 0                   | 0              | 0              | 0              | 44             |
| South East Central   | 59                         | 43             | 9              | 0              | 3                   | 2                   | 0              | 2              | 0              | 59             |
| South Eastern        | 145                        | 63             | 46             | 0              | 0                   | 31                  | 0              | 1              | 4              | 145            |
| Southern             | 291                        | 140            | 35             | 0              | 57                  | 7                   | 0              | 46             | 6              | 291            |
| South Western        | 394                        | 257            | 111            | 0              | 1                   | 0                   | 0              | 21             | 4              | 394            |
| West Central Railway | 234                        | 169            | 20             | 0              | 19                  | 15                  | 0              | 8              | 3              | 234            |
| Western              | 594                        | 439            | 45             | 0              | 16                  | 11                  | 0              | 83             | 0              | 594            |
| IRCTC                | 1039                       | 558            | 168            | 1              | 62                  | 14                  | 2              | 146            | 88             | 1039           |
| TOTAL                | 7046                       | 4367           | 1119           | 2              | 253                 | 452                 | 7              | 730            | 116            | 7046           |

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