Lok Sabha Question No. 4008 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Quality of Food
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Nitesh Ganga Deb

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4008 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## QUALITY OF FOOD

## 4008. SHRI NITESH GANGA DEB:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the food and snacks served in Rajdhani Express trains are below standards in quality;
- (b) if so, the details of the standard parameters followed in this regard;
- (c) whether the Ministry has received complaints from Rajdhani passengers
- regarding food standards; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  proposed  steps  taken  by  the  Railways  to  improve  food
- standards of the said trains?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  and  (b):  No,  Sir.  Meals  on  Rajdhani  Express  are  supplied  from  Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) designated Base Kitchens  where  branded  raw  materials  and  ingredients  are  used  for  food production to ensure quality. In snacks, only branded and premium quality food products/ Propriety Article Depot (PAD) items, empanelled by IRCTC, are served in Rajdhani Express trains. IRCTC has deployed on-board supervisors on  all  Rajdhani  Express  trains  for  real  time  monitoring  of  quality  of  food being served to passengers.

Further,  catering  service  in  Rajdhani  Express  is  provided  as  per norms and standards prescribed by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

- (c)  and (d):  Indian Railways have robust mechanism of receiving feedback, suggestions  and  grievances  from  the  passengers.  Appropriate  and  prompt corrective actions are taken by Railways to address these concerns. Further, to improve quality and hygiene of food, following steps have been

taken:-

-  Kitchens have been upgraded and installed with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)  Cameras  to  monitor  Kitchen  activities  on  real-time  basis.    Live streaming of the kitchens has been made available for passengers through IRCTC website as well as Rail Drishti.
-  All  food  boxes  served  in  mobile  (post-paid)  and  static  units  are  provided with  QR  code  or  stickers  giving  details  like  MRP,  name  of  contractor, weight, date of packing and symbol of veg./non-veg. food item. This facility is presently available in 29 Base Kitchens/Kitchen Units.
-  Ensuring  use  of  approved  PAD  items,  branded  premium  quality  raw material and ingredients for production of Food.
-  Food Safety Supervisors have been deployed in Base Kitchens to ensure that  the  norms  of  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI) regarding maintenance of food safety and personal hygiene are complied with. This includes periodic testing of food samples in the accredited labs.
-  It  is  mandatory  for  each  catering  units  on  Indian  Railways  to  have certification from FSSAI to ensure the compliance of food safety norms.
-  Periodical Third Party Food Audits are conducted to check the quality of food, service, hygiene conditions etc. at catering units. Audit parameters include quality, service, hygiene, etc.
-  Special/Surprise inspections/drives are conducted to check the quality of food, hygiene in Base Kitchens.

-  On-board  supervisors  have  been  deployed  for  real  time  monitoring  of quality of food being served to passengers.
-  Appropriate  punitive  action  including  termination,  imposition  of  fines, D&AR (Disciplinary and Appeal Rules) action, warning, etc is taken against deficiency in service.

*****