Lok Sabha Question No. 520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Unhygienic Condition of Train Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 520

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2023

## UNHYGIENIC CONDITION OF TRAIN COACHES

## 520.  ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railway  is  aware  of  regular  passenger  complaints about  the  unhygienic  condition  of  the  train  coaches  and  the quality of the food served in Kerala bound trains from Delhi and other cities and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Railways  has  taken/is  likely  to  take  necessary measures to resolve the difficulties faced by the passengers in these long-distance trains; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c): Indian Railways take every endeavour to keep train coaches in properly maintained/hygienic condition and to provide good quality/hygienic food to passengers as per the prescribed norms and standards by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Some  of  the  major  initiatives  taken  by  Indian  Railways  to maintain  cleanliness  standards  in  trains  and  to  bring  noticeable improvement in catering services are as under:

1. Installation  of  bio-toilets  in  entire  fleet  of  passenger  carrying coaches to eliminate the direct discharge of human waste from trains.
2. Cleaning  of  coaches  including  toilets  of  trains  is  done  at  both ends including mechanized cleaning.
3. On  Board  Housekeeping  Service  (OBHS)  has  been  provided  in identified  long  distance  Mail/Express  trains  for  cleaning  of  coach toilets, doorways, aisles and passenger compartments during the run of the trains.
4. Clean Train Station (CTS) scheme has also been prescribed for limited  mechanized  cleaning  attention  to  identified  trains  including cleaning of toilets  during  their  scheduled  stoppages  enroute  at nominated stations.
5. Special  Cleanliness  Campaigns  under  Swachh  Bharat  Abhiyan and  cleanliness  drives/campaign  are  organized  regularly  over  Indian Railways  with  the  objective  to  achieve  significant  and  sustainable improvements in cleanliness standards of railway stations and trains. Indian  Railway  has  been  consistently  making  efforts  to  improve standards of cleanliness of toilets and washrooms by applying state of the art cleaning mechanism.
6. Upgradation of Base Kitchen/Kitchen Units undertaken.
7. CCTV Cameras have been installed  in  upgraded  Base  Kitchens /Kitchen  Units  for  better  monitoring  of  food  preparation  right  at  the source.  Regular  and  surprise  inspections  are  conducted  by  Railway/ IRCTC officials including Food Safety Officers. Deployment of on board IRCTC supervisors on trains.
8. Further,  as  a  measure  to  improve  catering  services  on  trains, IRCTC  has  been  given  flexibility  to  customise  the  menu  within  the same tariff so as to introduce the items of regional cuisines/preferences, seasonal delicacies, requirement during festivals,  food  items  as  per  the  preferences  of  different  group  of passengers  such  as  diabetic  food,  baby  food,  health  food  options including millet based local products, etc.
9. QR codes have been introduced on food packets enabling display of details like name of kitchen, date of packaging etc.
10. Third Party Audit is done to examine hygiene and cleanliness in Pantry  Cars  and  Kitchen  Units.  Customer  satisfaction  survey  is  also conducted.
11. To  ensure  compliance  of  Food  Safety  Norms,  Food  Safety  and Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI),  certification  from  Designated Food Safety Officers of each catering unit has been made mandatory.
12. A dedicated 'Rail Madad Portal' has been established to deal with the passenger complaints/suggestions on priority basis on cleanliness and food quality. All complaints received through Twitter handle @IR CATERING, CPGRAMS, E-Mails,SMS,etc. are promptly monitored, addressed and resolved on real time basis.
13. Regular checks/surprise checks on cleanliness including toilets and washrooms and also quality of food are conducted at officers/supervisors levels and punitive/corrective action taken wherever any deficiency is noticed.

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