Ordering food on a long train journey is a welcome convenience, but a new advisory from IRCTC warns passengers against using unauthorised websites and apps. This alert highlights serious risks, from unhygienic food to financial fraud.
The Rise of Unauthorised Food Vendors
The Indian Railway
Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched a significant crackdown on a growing number of unauthorised websites and mobile apps that offer meal delivery services to train passengers. These unofficial platforms often mimic the look and feel of official services, making it easy for unsuspecting travellers to place orders. However, IRCTC has stated that these operations pose serious risks to passenger well-being. The core issue is a complete lack of regulation. These vendors often source meals from unlicensed kitchens that may not adhere to the food safety and hygiene standards mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). This can lead to unhygienic food preparation, untrained handlers, and delivery personnel who have not undergone required medical checks, creating a significant health risk for passengers.
Your Money and Data Are at Risk
Beyond hygiene, using these unverified platforms exposes passengers to financial and data security threats. To place an order, travellers must share sensitive information like their PNR number, mobile number, and payment details. When entered into an unauthorised app, this data can be harvested for phishing attacks, identity theft, and other forms of financial fraud. Furthermore, the IRCTC advisory explicitly warns that passengers using these services risk their orders being delayed, incorrect, or simply never arriving. Because these vendors operate outside the official system, there is often no formal customer support or grievance redressal mechanism. This means if your prepaid order doesn't show up, you may have no clear way to get a refund or hold the vendor accountable, leaving you both hungry and out of pocket.
How to Book Meals Safely and Officially
To avoid these risks, IRCTC urges all passengers to use only its official and authorised channels for e-catering. Booking through these platforms ensures that the food comes from FSSAI-approved restaurants and that your payment is secure. The official methods are:
1. Official Website: Visit the IRCTC e-Catering website at 'ecatering.irctc.co.in'. Simply enter your 10-digit PNR number to see a list of available restaurants and stations on your route.
2. 'Food on Track' App: Download the official IRCTC mobile app, named 'Food on Track', from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store for a convenient mobile experience.
3. By Phone: You can place an order by calling the e-Catering helpline at 1323.
4. Authorised Partners: IRCTC also works with a list of authorised e-catering partners. This updated list is available on the official e-catering website, ensuring you are ordering from a legitimate source.
What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
Even when using official channels, issues can sometimes occur. If your order is wrong, of poor quality, or doesn't arrive, you have a clear path for complaints. The first step is to raise the issue directly through the platform you ordered from, whether it's the 'Food on Track' app or the website, using your order ID. For more serious issues, or if you don't get a resolution, you can use the RailMadad portal ('railmadad.indianrailways.gov.in') or call the unified railway helpline at 139. When filing a complaint, it is crucial to have your PNR number and order ID ready. It is also advisable to take photos of the incorrect or poor-quality food as evidence. Without an official order placed through an authorised channel, lodging a complaint and getting a resolution becomes extremely difficult.
Reporting Unauthorised Vendors
IRCTC is actively trying to curb these illegal operations, which not only risk passenger safety but also evade taxes, causing losses to the public exchequer. Passengers can play a crucial role in this effort. If you encounter any unauthorised food vendors or suspect illegal delivery activities at a station or on a train, you are encouraged to report them. You can do this by calling the Railway Protection Force (RPF) helpline at 182. By reporting these incidents, you help protect fellow travellers and contribute to a safer and more reliable food ecosystem on the Indian Railways network.
