Cockroach Found in Meal Served on Vande Bharat Express; IRCTC Imposes Hefty Penalty on Service Provider

In a concerning incident on July 24, a passenger traveling on the Rani Kamalapati (Habibganj) – Hazrat Nizamuddin Vande Bharat Express made a disturbing discovery when they found a cockroach in the meal provided by IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation). The passenger expressed their anger by sharing a picture of the meal on Twitter, leading to widespread outrage and raising serious questions about the food quality on Indian trains.

IRCTC Reacts Swiftly and Penalizes Service Provider

In response to the passenger’s tweet, IRCTC quickly issued a sincere apology for the unpleasant experience. They assured the public that they treated the matter with utmost seriousness and took strict action against the concerned service provider. A hefty penalty was imposed on the service provider, and additional monitoring measures were implemented at the source kitchen to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Divisional Railway Manager’s Assurance

The Divisional Railway Manager of Bhopal also addressed the issue on Twitter, confirming that IRCTC arranged alternative food for the affected passenger without delay. They reassured the public that appropriate punitive action had been taken against the licensee, showcasing zero tolerance towards such lapses in service quality.

Multiple Complaints Highlight Need for Comprehensive Review

This incident, however, was not an isolated one. Several other passengers traveling on the same train took to Twitter to voice their complaints about the quality of food. This situation underscores the necessity for a thorough review of the food services provided by IRCTC and its licensees.

₹25,000 Penalty and Strict Warning

The spokesperson of West Central Railway revealed that a penalty of ₹25,000 was imposed on the licensee responsible for the lapse in food quality. Additionally, a stern warning was issued to the licensee to prevent any recurrence of such incidents in the future. Following the prompt response, the passenger’s issue was marked as “resolved” after they were served fresh food.

Enhanced Quality Control Measures

In order to prevent such incidents from happening again, West Central Railway announced plans to increase the frequency of periodic checks at licensee kitchens. These measures aim to ensure stringent quality control standards are upheld, maintaining the highest levels of food hygiene and safety for railway passengers.