A shocking video has gone viral showing passengers in a Vande Bharat train returning their food trays. The clips, shared by X user Akash Keshari, show passengers refusing to eat food served in tin foil packages, claiming it was stale and unhygienic.
The incident happened on train number 22416, travelling from New Delhi (NDLS) to Varanasi (BSB). Mr Keshari tagged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Indian Railways accounts, demanding a refund and action against the service provider.
Social Media Post Sparks Attention
In his post, Mr Keshari expressed his disappointment over the poor food quality. The video quickly gained thousands of views and comments, highlighting growing concerns among passengers about food hygiene in premium trains like Vande Bharat.
The post sparked discussions on whether Indian Railways’ onboard catering meets international standards, with users recalling similar incidents on Rajdhani trains as well.
Indian Railways Responds Promptly
The Railways Seva team responded quickly, assuring the passenger that the complaint was officially registered on RailMadad. Passengers were asked to share their PNR and mobile number via Direct Message (DM) for further assistance.
The Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) also addressed the issue, apologizing for the unsatisfactory experience and confirming strict action. A fine of Rs 25,000 was imposed on the licensee, and the staff responsible were disengaged. IRCTC also strengthened monitoring of onboard services to prevent future issues.
Passenger Reactions and Concerns
Many social media users expressed frustration over repeated poor food quality in Indian trains. Some suggested providing dry snacks instead of cooked meals, as cooked items may become stale after hours. Others criticized corruption and lack of accountability in railway catering services, emphasizing that passengers’ trust in premium trains like Vande Bharat is at stake.
Challenges in Railway Catering
Providing fresh and hygienic food across thousands of trains daily is a complex task. While Indian Railways has made improvements such as onboard housekeeping and bio-toilets, catering remains a challenge due to long journey times, improper storage, and the sheer scale of operations.
Experts suggest more stringent monitoring, regular audits of food vendors, and switching to packaged dry snacks on long journeys to maintain quality and safety.
Conclusion
The viral incident highlights that even premium trains like Vande Bharat face challenges in food hygiene and passenger satisfaction. Indian Railways is taking steps to address these complaints, but consistent monitoring and passenger awareness are essential to maintain high standards and trust in the system.
FAQs
How can passengers report poor food quality in Vande Bharat trains?
Passengers can report complaints through the RailMadad app, website, or WhatsApp bot. They may also contact Indian Railways or IRCTC on social media for immediate action.
What action does Indian Railways take against poor service?
IRCTC and Indian Railways impose fines on licensees, disengage responsible staff, and strengthen monitoring of onboard services to ensure better quality.
Why do such food issues still happen?
Challenges include long journeys, improper food storage, vendor negligence, and the large scale of catering operations across thousands of trains daily.
Are there any suggestions to avoid cooked food issues?
Yes, some experts suggest providing dry snacks like chevda or packaged items along with beverages instead of cooked meals that may spoil during long travel.
Will Indian Railways improve Vande Bharat food quality?
Indian Railways is actively monitoring vendors and implementing stricter quality checks to prevent similar incidents in the future.