Lok Sabha Question No. 4758 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Quality of Food to Train Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4758

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## QUALITY OF FOOD TO TRAIN PASSENGERS

†4758. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  substandard  food  items  and  local  water  is being supplied to the passengers travelling in trains and if so, the facts in this regard;
- (b)  whether food items are being supplied by private contractors to the passengers travelling in trains;
- (c) if so, whether the health of the passengers is not being compromised by such act;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  action  taken  against  private  contractors  who  are  not  supplying hygienic and healthy food items to passengers during the journey?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  to  (d):  No,  Sir.  It  is  the  continuous  endeavour  of  Indian  Railways  to provide  quality  and  hygienic  food  to  the  passengers  as  per  norms  and standards  prescribed  by  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India (FSSAI). Indian Railways have taken various measures to ensure quality, hygiene and standards of food served to the passengers, which include use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras in Kitchens, Quick

Response (QR) codes on food packets providing all details of the meals produced including date and time of packaging, certification from Food Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI),  customer  satisfaction surveys,  Third  Party  Audits  of  establishments  and  regular  and  surprise inspections  by  Railway  officials.  There  is  also  a  robust  system  of passenger grievances redressal through Integrated Helpline no. 139, Rail Madad, Twitter handle and CPGRAMS.

Indian  Railways,  at  present,  runs  special  trains  in  which  only Ready to Eat (RTE) food is being provided which is hygienic and governed by FSSAI standards.

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) has engaged private contractors to provide catering facilities in special trains either through Pantry Car or Train Side Vending.  For provision of eCatering facilities, reputed service providers have also been empanelled by IRCTC.

(e):  The  details  of  complaints  received  by  Indian  Railways  regarding quality  of  food  and  supply  of  packaged  drinking  water  other  than  Rail Neer along with the action taken against them are Appended.

*****

APPENDIX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  4758  BY  SHRI  KAUSHALENDRA  KUMAR  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING QUALITY OF FOOD TO TRAIN PASSENGERS

(e):  The  details  of  complaints  received  from  01-04-2020  to  28-022021  by  Indian  Railways  regarding  quality  of  food  and  supply  of packaged drinking water, other than Rail Neer, along with the action taken against them are as under:

|                                |                         | Action Taken   | Action Taken       | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   | Action Taken   |
|--------------------------------|-------------------------|----------------|--------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
|                                |                         | Fined          | Fined              |                |                | Advised        | Substantiated  |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |
| Head                           | Total No. of complaints | No. of cases   | Fine imposed ( ₹ ) | Warned         | Termination    | Suitably       | Not            | D & AR Action  | Any Other      | Total          | Total          | Total          | Total          | Total          | Total          | Total          | Total          | Total          | Total          | Total          | Total          |
| Quality of food                | 236                     | 42             |                    | 76             | 1              | 73             | 27             | 0              | 17             | 236            | 236            | 236            | 236            | 236            | 236            | 236            | 236            | 236            | 236            | 236            | 236            |
|                                |                         |                | 5,48,300           |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |
| Drinking Water other than Rail | 42                      | 17             | 1,49,000           |                |                | 8              | 6              | 0              | 4              | 42             | 42             | 42             | 42             | 42             | 42             | 42             | 42             | 42             | 42             | 42             | 42             |
|                                |                         |                |                    | 7              | 0              |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |
| Neer                           |                         |                |                    | 83             |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |
| Total                          |                         | 59             | 6,97,300           |                | 1              | 81             | 33             | 0              | 21             | 278            | 278            | 278            | 278            | 278            | 278            | 278            | 278            | 278            | 278            | 278            | 278            |
|                                | 278                     |                |                    |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |                |

*****