AI eyes on your train food! Worried about train food hygiene? Railways brings tech solution to keep a 24x7 watch on pantry cars, kitchens and food handling

Indian Railways is set to strengthen monitoring of food quality and hygiene by installing AI-enabled CCTV cameras in pantry cars and base kitchens serving trains under the East Central Railway (ECR) zone.

The move is aimed at ensuring better oversight of food preparation, packaging and supply, while improving transparency and accountability in railway catering services.

Why is Indian Railways installing CCTV in pantry cars?

The decision comes after Railway Board chairman Satish Kumar recently visited the IRCTC war room in New Delhi to review catering operations.


During the visit, Kumar stressed the need to maintain food quality and high standards of hygiene for passengers travelling by train.

Under the proposed system, CCTV cameras will provide round-the-clock surveillance of catering activities in pantry cars and base kitchens.

73 pantry car and vending services under ECR

According to IRCTC public relations officer V K Bhatti, the East Central Railway zone currently has 73 pantry car and train-side vending services operating on mail and express trains.

The zone also has 62 base kitchens, which supply food to passengers travelling on long-distance and premium trains.

The proposed CCTV network will allow railway authorities to monitor food preparation, packaging and the supply process more closely.

AI-enabled CCTV to monitor food quality and hygiene

The AI-enabled surveillance system is expected to help officials identify lapses in cleanliness and food-handling practices and take corrective action promptly.

Sources said the technology will assist in monitoring compliance with prescribed quality and hygiene standards across pantry cars and base kitchens.

The initiative is also expected to bring greater accountability to railway catering operations by allowing officials to monitor facilities remotely.

Where are ECR base kitchens located?

ECR's base kitchens and food supply facilities are located at several key railway stations, including Patna Junction, Rajendra Nagar Terminal, Danapur and Patliputra.

Meals and breakfast prepared at these facilities are supplied to passengers travelling on long-distance and premium trains.

How can passengers complain about railway food?

Passengers who face issues related to food quality, hygiene or catering services can continue to register complaints through Rail Madad, which operates round the clock.

A senior ECR official said the CCTV-based monitoring system would further strengthen passenger services and help improve the overall train travel experience.

IRCTC records highest-ever online ticket bookings

Meanwhile, IRCTC recorded its highest-ever number of online journey ticket bookings on September 7, with 20.06 lakh tickets booked across the country.

A further 19.50 lakh tickets were booked online on September 8, V K Bhatti said.

The increase in bookings has been attributed to strong travel demand ahead of the Diwali and Chhath festivals, when passenger traffic typically rises sharply.

The proposed AI-enabled CCTV network is expected to add another layer of monitoring as Indian Railways prepares to handle increased passenger demand during the festive travel season.


Inputs from TOI