IRCTC Bans Unapproved Food & Drinks on Indian Trains

Next time you hop on an Indian Railways train, you might notice something different in the snack cart. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is stepping up inspections to ensure you’re only getting approved food and drinks, cracking down on unauthorized items.

Quick Response Teams (QRTs), working with the Railways’ commercial departments, are leading these checks. Their main goal is to identify unapproved packaged drinking water, food, and other beverages, while also ensuring proper licensing and hygiene standards.

What’s Being Seized?

• In the North Zone’s Lucknow region, inspections from July 28 to August 8 covered 117 trains, resulting in the seizure of 5,241 bottles of unapproved packaged drinking water.
• The Chandigarh region saw 51 trains inspected across stations like Ambala, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Katra, and Jammu, with 3,108 bottles of unapproved water confiscated.
• A surprise check in Ambala on August 10 led to the seizure of 13 cartons of unapproved items, including ice cream and flavored milk, with similar products found at Saharanpur railway station.

The inspection drive wasn’t just limited to the North. Teams in the West Zone at Sabarmati BG railway station on August 9 found and seized unauthorized packaged drinking water and buttermilk being loaded onto trains.

Nationwide Crackdown Continues

• In the East Zone, a QRT at Howrah on August 8 confiscated and disposed of unauthorized food and beverage products.
• From August 8 to 14, IRCTC QRTs conducted extensive inspections in the Northeast, covering Guwahati, Kamakhya, Agartala, Katihar, New Jalpaigiri, and Dibrugarh.

These Northeast checks focused on a range of issues beyond just unapproved products, including overcharging, staff documentation, hygiene, pest control, and overall passenger service standards.

IRCTC has confirmed that unapproved items were seized and disposed of at multiple locations during this period. They’ve also issued a clear directive to all catering service providers, stressing the importance of preventing staff from selling unauthorized items.

Violations will lead to penal actions as per existing license terms and conditions. IRCTC plans to continue these intensive inspections across all its zones and regions, aiming to ensure food safety and provide hygienic, quality catering services for everyone traveling.