Food quality in Vande Bharat trains

If the food is good, people generally don’t worry much about the price. When the Vande Bharat train service started in Kerala, there were complaints that the food served on board was too expensive. However, since the food quality was generally satisfactory, the complaints gradually died down. Recently though, the contract company responsible for the catering had to be removed from Southern Railway's service list after it was found to have served worm-infested food. Reports later suggested that the same company might re-enter under a different name. This has once again brought to light the corruption and irregularities in the railway catering sector, largely controlled by North Indian companies.

Though the ticket fare of Vande Bharat trains includes the cost of food, passengers have the option to book tickets without meals and pay only the travel fare. However, many passengers forget this option and often depend on the onboard meals during long journeys. The arrival of Vande Bharat trains has completely changed the experience of train travel in Kerala - with speed, cleanliness, comfort, and safety comparable to air travel. Currently, there are two Vande Bharat trains running in the state - one from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod and another to Mangaluru. Both trains continue to have high demand for reservations. The fact that passengers can travel from the capital to the northern districts and return the same day is a major improvement.

However, the quality and safety of the food are more important than speed or comfort. Passengers who pay extra for meals have the right to clean, hygienic, and tasty food. Contract companies focused only on profit and ignoring these standards should not be tolerated. Most of the railway catering business is controlled by Delhi-based companies, which operate under different names in multiple zones. Since it is not possible for them to manage everything directly, they subcontract the work to small local operators. Many of these small contractors run unhygienic kitchens near railway stations, often in rented, poorly maintained buildings without proper facilities.

This issue can be easily solved if the railway catering contracts in Kerala are given to local catering firms and if IRCTC conducts regular quality inspections. After the incident of serving worm-infested food, many passengers have reportedly stopped ordering onboard meals on Vande Bharat trains. They now prefer bringing food from home, not because of the high price, but for health and safety reasons. Recently, the Kochi Corporation’s 'Samridhi Kitchen', a government initiative, was given the catering contract for four trains operating within Kerala. Being a government-run organisation, it brings trust and accountability. It is important that the railway resists pressure from North Indian catering lobbies and continues to award catering contracts to Kerala-based companies.