Passengers often rely on railway pantry and catering services during long train journeys. However, complaints frequently arise regarding a lack of hygiene during food preparation within the pantries, raising concerns about food quality. The Railways is now set to take significant measures to address food quality and cleanliness standards. CCTV cameras will be installed in railway pantry cars and base kitchens. This initiative will be launched on premium trains operating along the East Central route.
Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar visited the IRCTC ‘War Room’ in New Delhi to review catering services. During the visit, he emphasized the need to further strengthen the surveillance system to ensure the provision of hygienic food to passengers. East Central Railway operates 73 pantry cars and provides ‘Train Side Vending’ services. The number of base kitchens has been increased to 62. CCTV cameras will now be installed at all these locations. Every stage—from food preparation to packaging and supply—will be monitored via CCTV. Immediate action will be taken in the event of any irregularities.
This initiative by the Railways aims to bring transparency to catering services. Monitoring will be conducted using AI-enabled CCTV cameras; the system will instantly detect and flag any instances of unhygienic conditions. The primary objective of the Railways is to ensure a pleasant experience for passengers through the use of AI technology.
