New Delhi: In a major step towards improving food safety and hygiene in railway catering services, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has introduced a 24×7 Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based monitoring system across its base kitchens nationwide. The initiative aims to ensure that passengers receive safe, hygienic, and high-quality meals on trains and at railway stations.
The decision follows several complaints regarding food quality in railway catering services. Recently, the Ministry of Railways imposed a penalty of ₹10 lakh on IRCTC after poor-quality curd was served on the Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express. The catering contractor responsible for supplying the food was also fined ₹50 lakh.
More than 2,394 AI-powered cameras have been installed in over 800 IRCTC base kitchens across the country. Unlike conventional CCTV cameras, these advanced systems can automatically detect nine categories of hygiene and safety violations during food preparation. The AI technology is capable of identifying even small contaminants, such as insects or hair strands measuring just 7–8 millimetres, helping maintain stringent food safety standards.
Whenever a violation is detected, the AI system immediately sends an alert to the concerned kitchen manager. If corrective action is not taken within the stipulated time, the matter is escalated to senior officials. In most cases, disciplinary or financial action against the responsible staff or catering contractor is initiated within two hours.
According to IRCTC officials, the system currently generates around 350 alerts every day. Over the past month, a total of 13,550 alerts were recorded. The Northern Zone accounted for the highest number of alerts at 4,123, while the Southern Zone reported the lowest at 1,209.
Officials acknowledged that the AI system is highly sensitive and may occasionally generate false alerts. For instance, if a cook’s hairnet slips slightly out of position, the system may still classify it as a violation. At present, catering services are provided on 1,453 trains across the country, serving nearly 60 crore passengers annually. Over the past five years, Indian Railways has received more than 19,000 complaints related to food quality and hygiene, prompting authorities to adopt stricter monitoring measures.
AI Cameras Monitor the Following Violations:
- Failure to wear hairnets while preparing food.
- Not using protective gloves during food handling.
- Poor cleanliness and improper floor maintenance in kitchens.
- Food being stored in open or unhygienic conditions.
- Presence of rats, flies, cockroaches, or other pests inside kitchen premises.
The introduction of AI-based surveillance marks a significant modernization of railway catering operations and underscores Indian Railways’ commitment to ensuring safe and hygienic meals for millions of passengers.
