Vande Bharat Food Complaint: Railways Fines IRCTC Rs 10 Lakh, Cancels Caterer Contract with Rs 50 Lakh Penalty
New Delhi, 26th March 2026: In a major action concerning onboard food quality, Indian Railways has imposed penalties on Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation and ordered the termination of a catering contractor’s agreement following a passenger complaint on the Vande Bharat Express.
According to official information, the action relates to a complaint regarding food quality and service irregularities reported on March 15, 2026, on Train No. 21896 Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express. The complaint was taken seriously by the Railways, leading to an investigation into the matter.
Following the inquiry, Indian Railways imposed a penalty of ₹10 lakh on IRCTC. In addition, a fine of ₹50 lakh was levied on the concerned onboard service provider responsible for catering services on the train. The Railways has also issued orders to terminate the contract of the service provider.
A spokesperson from Indian Railways stated that passenger safety, hygiene, and food quality remain top priorities, and any lapse in service standards will invite strict action.
Indian Railways, through IRCTC, provides catering services to more than 1.5 million passengers every day across its network, making it one of the largest onboard catering operations in the world. Officials stated that strict monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure quality standards are maintained across all trains, including premium services like the Vande Bharat Express.
The Railways reiterated that complaints related to passenger services, especially food safety and hygiene, are monitored closely and violations are dealt with through penalties, contract termination, or blacklisting of service providers.
