The Indian Railways has imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) following a passenger complaint regarding
food quality on the Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express.
According to the Railways, the complaint was raised over meals served on Train No. 21896 on March 15, 2026, and was taken seriously by the authorities. “IRCTC has been penalised ₹10 lakh, the service provider has been penalised with ₹50 lakh, and ordered to terminate the contract,” the national transporter said in a statement.
In addition to the penalty on IRCTC, a ₹50 lakh fine has been imposed on the concerned service provider, along with an order for contract termination, reported ANI.
An Indian Railways spokesperson stated that passenger safety and quality are our top priorities, underlining the Railways’ strict stance on service standards, especially on premium trains like Vande Bharat Express.
