Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 26: The Indian Railways has tightened its oversight on its catering arm, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, by imposing a fine of Rs 10 lakh following a passenger complaint over poor food quality.

The complaint pertained to train number 21896 — Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express — on March 15. Taking serious note of the issue, authorities also slapped a Rs 50 lakh penalty on the concerned service provider and ordered termination of its contract.

A Railways spokesperson stated that passenger safety and service quality remain top priorities, stressing that strict action will be taken in cases of negligence.

According to the Ministry, Indian Railways serves nearly 58 crore meals annually across its network. Despite the massive scale, complaints account for only about 0.0008%, including issues such as overcharging. Over the past three years, penalties amounting to Rs 2.6 crore have been imposed following such complaints.

The Ministry further noted that during 2025, three incidents of assault on passengers by pantry car staff were reported, with legal action initiated by the Government Railway Police.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a fresh set of reforms under the “Reform Express” initiative. With five new reforms approved on Tuesday, the total number of reforms introduced for 2026 has risen to nine.

Of the newly approved reforms, two focus on cargo operations, one on construction, and two on passenger convenience.

Highlighting a key reform on salt transportation, Vaishnaw noted that India is among the world’s largest producers and exporters of salt. Major producing states include Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Out of nearly 35 million tonnes of annual salt production, only about 9.2 million tonnes are transported via railways, indicating significant untapped potential.