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The Danapur division - which is part of the East Central Railways - has currently launched a QR code-based feature which enables passengers to verify information about food stall vendors as well as understand whether they are being charged fair prices for the products being purchased. In a bid to offer transparency and convenience, the move was implemented following directives from the Railway Board, where authorised food vendors’ information such as their name, license details, full list of products with approved prices are made available simply by scanning the code using a mobile device.
The initiative hopes to curb malpractices and ensure vendor authenticity so that passengers refrain from being overcharged. Following the list of 19,427 complaints that the Indian Railways received between the financial years of 2021-25, the Railway Board emphasised the importance of launching such an initiative - to address concerns of food safety and apply a uniform standard across various divisions, moving forward. The QR code facility will be made available at all key stations within the division, followed by regular inspections for compliance purposes. Vendors that might flout the mandate or are suspected of irregularities stand to be penalised.
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Other measures to implement food safety and hygiene by the Indian Railways have included using designated base kitchens, CCTV monitoring as well as food safety supervisors. Making the most of the digital IRCTC platform, mandates have also been issued to display food menus with pantry car prices on the official website. The E-pantry service for mail and express trains was expanded across various lines following premium railway services like Shatabdi and Rajdhani to benefit a larger segment of travellers - who can now receive meal verification SMS updates and links regarding menu and pricing information.
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The digital meal booking system enables passengers to pre-order food online, before or after reserving their tickets and be made available only on trains having pantry cars. Online transactions also mean that it eliminated the need for cash transactions, food reaches the right passenger through the meal verification code (MVC) and easier processing of refunds upon non-delivery. As a way to make good quality, hygienic food accessible to passengers who were previously deprived of the service, the feature is in alignment with pushing digital services and service modernisation for the Indian Railways.
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Currently existent on more than 25 trains, the service is touted to be rolled out to other express and mail trains over a period of time. Further aiding passenger convenience, the Railways have also adopted measures like providing free meals to passengers travelling on delayed premium train services. Passengers who avail tickets on Duronto Express, Rajdhani and Shatabdi as well as all AC classes are provided with this coverage, which includes tea or coffee along with packaged cookies, sugar or alt sugar sachets and milk cream, bread, butter and fruit drinks if the delays are around tea time or mornings. Delays that occur around lunch or dinner time will include meals that consist of dal-rice, chhole or rajma and pickle, or puris with vegetables. Earlier in April this year, Union Minister Ashwini Yadav also announced that regional food options will be tailored to specific routes as a way to celebrate the culinary diversity within the country.
This means that passengers would be able to customise their meal options, which include seasonal delicacies, diabetic and baby-friendly dishes, millet-based specialties as well as low-calorie meals. The initiative was implemented on premium railway services as well as Vande Bharat Express trains along with Janta Meals for budget travellers.
