Jhansi: The quality of onboard catering on premium trains has been questioned after passengers flagged alleged food quality issues on two trains on social media. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has initiated action and issued clarifications in the matter.National chairman of the Scheduled Caste Department of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Uttar Pradesh coordinator Rajendra Pal Gautam, travelling from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Jhansi in the executive class of the 22470 Vande Bharat Express on Saturday, alleged that the milk served onboard was of substandard quality.Travelling with former Uttar Pradesh Congress president Brijlal Khabri, Gautam, he posted a video on his X handle, along with his PNR and coach details, questioning the quality of the beverage served to passengers.“I was shocked to see the ‘milk’ that was served to us. It was hard to tell whether it was milk, a chemical or something else entirely. Will IRCTC and Indian Railways toy with passengers’ health like this?” Gautam wrote, while demanding a thorough investigation into the matter.Responding to the post, IRCTC maintained that the milk served was of an approved brand and was well within its expiry date. However, it said the complaint had been taken seriously. “Nevertheless, the matter has been viewed seriously. The concerned onboard staff has been reprimanded and instructed to exercise greater care while handling and preparing food items,” the corporation said.The incident comes close on the heels of another complaint on the same day involving a premium train. Passengers travelling on the 12002 New Delhi-Rani Kamlapati Shatabdi Express, which passes through Jhansi, alleged that bread packets served during breakfast had crossed their expiry date by a day. Photographs of the packets were shared on social media, drawing widespread attention and criticism.Reacting to the complaint, the IRCTC said stringent action had been taken against the catering contractor. “The matter has been taken with utmost seriousness. A hefty fine has been imposed on the service provider, while the staff responsible has been de-rostered,” it said.The back-to-back complaints have once again brought the spotlight on catering standards in premium trains, with passengers calling for stricter quality control measures and regular monitoring to ensure safe, hygienic and reliable food service onboard.
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