In a recent revelation, the Public Accounts Committee has submitted a comprehensive report to the Lok Sabha shedding light on the compromised quality of food served on Indian Railways trains. Chaired by Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the committee conducted an exhaustive examination of the railways’ catering policy, revealing significant challenges impacting food services, hygiene, and cleanliness.
According to PTI, the report, titled ‘Catering Service in Indian Railways,’ presented to the Lok Sabha, unveils a series of issues stemming from frequent changes in the railways’ catering policy and discrepancies in its execution. The committee, in its detailed analysis, traced the origin of the problem to the constant shifts in responsibility for catering activities. Originally delegated to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) under the 2005 policy, these catering responsibilities were later transferred to zonal railways as per the 2010 policy. However, in a perplexing turn of events, they were ultimately reassigned back to the IRCTC in the 2017 policy.
This flip-flop in the assignment of responsibilities has created an atmosphere of uncertainty in managing catering services for passengers. The committee emphasised that these policy oscillations have directly contributed to a compromise in the quality, hygiene, and cleanliness standards of the food served on trains. Highlighting discrepancies in the implementation of the 2017 Catering Policy, the report underlines the urgent need for a more stable and streamlined approach to managing food services on Indian Railways.
The lapses identified in the current system pose a challenge not only to the passengers’ experience but also to the overall reputation of Indian Railways. As the report raises critical concerns about the impact of policy changes on the food quality aboard trains, it calls for a swift and effective resolution to ensure that passengers receive hygienic and quality meals during their journeys. The findings underscore the imperative for a comprehensive review and overhaul of the catering policy to uphold the standards expected by the discerning rail passengers across the country.
