The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has engaged a German company, TUV SUD South Asia, to conduct food safety and hygiene audits. "This will help improve quality of food on trains and platforms," said Rakesh Tandon, managing director of IRCTC.

Initially, the audits will be conducted in base kitchens and Food Plazas in New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, where cooks will come under the scanner as well. 

Similar surveys are being conducted on trains. In the first phase, Rajdhanis and Shatabdis have been chosen and later mail trains will be covered. The surveys will be conducted on a quarterly basis, Tandon said.

The railways has also engaged IMRB International and International Market Research Advisory to conduct customer satisfaction surveys. These agencies conduct random sampling surveys in which passengers are requested to fill up feedback forms. These surveys will also cover aspects of  hygiene and cleanliness related to food served in trains.

The corporation has also introduced online surveys. “In an ongoing survey, we have put up a question on the IRCTC’s website that elicits response on whether the quantity of food served in Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Duranto is sufficient. Forty-nine percent have said it is sufficient while 51 percent said it is not. Such surveys also help us in improving the service,” Tandon said.