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Jamshedpur, March 10 (Source: The Telegraph): Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will probe complaints of stale food being served on board, lodged by some passengers of the Howrah-Mumbai Duronto Express on Monday.
The meal comprising rice, dal, vegetables and pickle was supplied by a local private agency, Food World.
Railway sources said a section of passengers created a ruckus as soon as the meal was served. They alleged that the rice was stale and immediately informed the guard and other railway staff present on the train. Almost all passengers refused to eat the food served to them.
Later, when the train reached Bilaspur, the agitated passengers filed a written complaint with the station manager about the poor quality of food.
“We have been informed about the incident. An inquiry would be conducted. If the private agency, to which we have outsourced the cell kitchen, is found at fault, it will be penalised,” said Amlan Kumar Biswas, the group general manager of IRCTC, speaking over phone from Calcutta.
Railway officials said the meal was supplied to the train as soon as it reached Tatanagar at 11.30am. The food was served at 1.30pm.
Passenger Ramesh Choudhary, who was travelling on the train and tasted the food said, “The rice was unfit for consumption. The passengers had no choice but to reject the meal.”
The Howrah-Mumbai Duronto Express, a non-stop train between the two cities, was introduced in September last year. It travels twice a week — on Mondays and Fridays. The train halts at Tatanagar to load meals for the onward journey.
The private agency was appointed to supply hygienic meals and snacks when the train was introduced. It also supplies food on board Howrah-Titlagarh Ispat Express and Howrah-Barbil Janshatabdi Express.
Food World in-charge, Arun Singh, however, refused to accept that the food supplied was stale.
“We had sent the sample to the catering department. They did not raise any objections,” he said.
Chakradharpur division officials said the matter had also been forwarded to the Railway Board for necessary action.
