IRCTC Tightens Catering Rules To Boost Food Quality On Trains

07 Aug 2025 CW Team

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has created route-based train clusters and identified base kitchen locations to supply meals under existing policy norms. Contracts for these clusters were awarded transparently to the highest bidders based on the stipulated tender terms. IRCTC has also instituted robust monitoring and compliance systems to prevent unethical practices and ensure adherence to contractual conditions.

Out of 24 entities that bid for these catering clusters, 20 have been awarded contracts. No single bidder has secured 80 per cent of Cluster A contracts. Details of Letters of Award (LOAs) are available on IRCTC's website.

The ministry continues to receive and examine feedback, complaints, and suggestions from various stakeholders, including elected representatives and catering associations. These are addressed based on merit. In 2024–25, IRCTC imposed Rs 13.2 million in penalties related to catering complaints. Complaints are also tracked through the RailMadad portal.

Indian Railways currently serves an average of 1.65 million meals daily. To ensure uninterrupted and quality service delivery, Indian Railways updates its service protocols periodically.

As part of the service upgrade, the circular mandates specific staff qualifications and training requirements. Hotel management graduates are now required to supervise catering operations. Currently, 819 hospitality monitors are deployed across kitchens, while 876 oversee onboard catering services in trains.

This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

To improve food quality and hygiene on trains, the Ministry of Railways has implemented new catering guidelines under Commercial Circular No. 24 of 2023. The circular replaces individual train catering contracts with cluster-based contracts, introducing end-to-end accountability and focusing on infrastructure development.The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has created route-based train clusters and identified base kitchen locations to supply meals under existing policy norms. Contracts for these clusters were awarded transparently to the highest bidders based on the stipulated tender terms. IRCTC has also instituted robust monitoring and compliance systems to prevent unethical practices and ensure adherence to contractual conditions.Out of 24 entities that bid for these catering clusters, 20 have been awarded contracts. No single bidder has secured 80 per cent of Cluster A contracts. Details of Letters of Award (LOAs) are available on IRCTC's website.The ministry continues to receive and examine feedback, complaints, and suggestions from various stakeholders, including elected representatives and catering associations. These are addressed based on merit. In 2024–25, IRCTC imposed Rs 13.2 million in penalties related to catering complaints. Complaints are also tracked through the RailMadad portal.Indian Railways currently serves an average of 1.65 million meals daily. To ensure uninterrupted and quality service delivery, Indian Railways updates its service protocols periodically.As part of the service upgrade, the circular mandates specific staff qualifications and training requirements. Hotel management graduates are now required to supervise catering operations. Currently, 819 hospitality monitors are deployed across kitchens, while 876 oversee onboard catering services in trains.This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Infrastructure Urban

09 Mar 2026

Flender Inaugurates Wind Gearbox Test Rig In Chennai

Chennai, 6 March 2026: Flender has inaugurated a 13.5 MW wind turbine gearbox test rig at its Walajabad facility near Chennai, marking the installation of the largest test rig of its kind in India. The facility was inaugurated on 5 March in the presence of Andreas Evertz, CEO, Flender Group; Lars Wiegemann, Vice President – Wind Gears; and Vinod Shetty, CEO, Flender India.The test rig has been developed to support testing and validation of wind turbine gearboxes, strengthening the company’s capabilities in the renewable energy sector. The commissioning was completed within three months thr..

Infrastructure Energy

09 Mar 2026

BMW Industries partners with IOCL for PNG supply at Bokaro plant

BMW Industries has entered into a strategic partnership with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) for the supply of Piped Natural Gas (PNG), reinforcing its commitment to adopting cleaner and more efficient energy sources for its operations.The agreement was signed at the Eastern Region Pipelines (ERPL) headquarters in Kolkata. The partnership is expected to support the company’s upcoming manufacturing facility in Bokaro by facilitating the use of natural gas as a primary energy source.According to the company, the adoption of PNG will help enhance operational efficiency while also contributing to ..

Real Estate

09 Mar 2026

Bombay Realty Secures RERA for Three ICC Tower in South Mumbai

Bombay Realty, the real estate arm of Bombay Dyeing and part of the Wadia Group, has received Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) certification for Three ICC – Wing A, the latest luxury residential tower at Island City Center in Mumbai’s Dadar.The RERA registration marks a key milestone in the development timeline and reinforces the company’s focus on regulatory transparency, timely project delivery, and high construction standards.Following the success of One ICC and Two ICC, the upcoming Three ICC tower represents the next phase of the Island City Center development. The project ai..