Vande Bharat Food Complaint: IRCTC, Contractor Fined ₹60 Lakh for Poor Quality

• A passenger complained about poor, tasteless, and unhygienic food on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express on March 15, 2026.
• The Ministry of Railways and IRCTC promptly investigated the complaint, finding it to be true.
• IRCTC was fined ₹10 lakh, and the food service provider was penalized ₹50 lakh, with their contract terminated.
• Railway officials emphasized that passenger safety and satisfaction, especially on premium trains like Vande Bharat, are top priorities.
• The Ministry of Railways has issued new directives to IRCTC for quality food and increased monitoring of service providers, adopting a zero-tolerance policy.

Key Questions Answered

What specific complaint led to the penalty on Vande Bharat food service?

Complaints included poor quality and insufficient quantity of food, food heated in plastic packaging, and the discovery of live insects and maggots in meals.

How quickly did the Ministry of Railways act on the food quality complaint?

The Ministry of Railways acted swiftly by introducing a QR code system for food quality complaints on November 17, 2025. This initiative was officially launched on a Wednesday.