QR code-enabled identity cards and digitally traceable food packets in Indian Railways have helped eliminate unauthorized vending and ensure verified onboard catering services for rail passengers. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Parliament that QR code-enabled Identity Cards are now mandatory for authorized vendors in trains. These cards display essential details like the vendor’s name, Aadhaar number, medical fitness, and police verification information.
To enhance quality, hygiene, and food safety, various measures have been implemented. These include sourcing meals from designated base kitchens, setting up modern base kitchens at specific locations, and installing CCTV cameras in base kitchens for better monitoring of food preparation. Additionally, popular and branded raw materials are used for food production, and Food Safety Supervisors are deployed at base kitchens to ensure food safety and hygienic practices.
In a bid to enforce Food Safety Norms, certification from designated Food Safety Officers of each catering unit by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is now mandatory. The quality of food on trains is maintained through regular food sampling as part of the inspection and monitoring mechanism. Third-party audits are conducted to assess hygiene and food quality in pantry cars and base kitchens, with customer satisfaction surveys also being carried out.
IRCTC conducts regular training sessions to enhance the skills of catering staff, with a focus on customer service areas.
