Railways summons Amul over spoiled curd, company faces scrutiny
The move follows action taken by the Railways on March 25, when a cumulative penalty of Rs 60 lakh was imposed on IRCTC and the catering service provider for lapses in onboard food services
Days after the Railways imposed hefty penalties for lapses in onboard catering, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on Friday summoned Amul over serious quality concerns regarding curd served on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express.
According to officials, IRCTC has taken complaints about the quality of the curd “very seriously”. Action has been initiated against both the onboard catering licensee and Amul, including the imposition of penalties, initiation of contract termination and possible blacklisting of the service provider.
The move follows action taken by the Railways on March 25, when a cumulative penalty of Rs 60 lakh was imposed on IRCTC and the catering service provider for lapses in onboard food services. Officials said the decision underscored that passenger experience was non-negotiable.
The issue came to light after a passenger travelling on Train No. 21896 — the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express — lodged a complaint on March 15 regarding the quality of food served onboard. Subsequently, IRCTC was fined Rs 10 lakh for service deficiencies, while the private catering provider was penalised Rs 50 lakh and directed to terminate its contract.
Railway officials said the swift action reflects a commitment to maintaining high standards of hygiene, safety and passenger satisfaction. The Railways reiterated that food quality and passenger safety remain top priorities.
The action signals a zero-tolerance approach to lapses in onboard catering, particularly on premium services such as the Vande Bharat Express.
