Caterer fined Rs 25,000 as human nail found in food served on Vande Bharat Express

The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on a catering contractor after a passenger traveling on the Vande Bharat Express discovered a piece of human nail in the food served onboard.

The incident took place on the train's journey from CSMT in Mumbai to Madgaon in Goa, and the passenger shared a video of the contaminated food on social media, sparking concerns about the quality of meals served on the train.

In response to the incident and previous complaints regarding the substandard quality of food on the Mumbai-Goa route, the IRCTC has implemented new protocols.

An executive-level officer will now travel on Vande Bharat trains to monitor onboard services, and increased vigilance has been established at the base kitchen in Ratnagiri, where the food is loaded onto the train.

Passengers have expressed dissatisfaction with the lentils and paneer curry served on the Vande Bharat train, with one co-passenger, who discovered the nail in the food, hoping that the IRCTC's actions will lead to improvements in service quality.

The Mumbai-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, launched on June 27, 2023, operates between Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai and Madgaon Junction in Goa. This train marks the 19th Vande Bharat Express in the country.