Partnership Announcement

IRCTC has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Quality Council of India (QCI) to establish a rigorous, technology-driven, independent third-party audit mechanism for food safety and hygiene standards.

Audit Mechanism Details

  • QCI will deploy certified professionals to conduct intense, unannounced quarterly and half-yearly inspection cycles across all IRCTC-managed mobile (trains) and static (station) catering units
  • Audits will enforce strict compliance with statutory Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations and international culinary standards
  • The process uses QCI's digital infrastructure with a proprietary mobile application featuring mandatory geo-tagging, time-stamping, and photographic evidence to eliminate data tampering
  • Audit reports will be submitted within a strict 24-hour turnaround window
  • Enables real-time detection of operational gaps and triggers immediate Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) tracking against defaulting vendors

Key Impact Areas

  • Zero-Compromise Onboard Dining: Rigorous independent screening across trains ensures passenger protection from subpar meal preparation
  • Consistent Quality at Stations: Complete standardization guarantees immaculate cooking environments across all major station-based static units
  • Strict Vendor Accountability: Digital evidence-backed reports ensure rapid penalty or corrective loops for catering licensees
  • Visible Hygiene & Grooming Protocols: On-ground checks will enforce staff medical fitness, mandatory protective gear, and professional hospitality etiquette
  • Sanitary Storage Compliance: Enhanced monitoring ensures absolute segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian raw items, temperature-controlled meal holding, and verified pest control
  • Future-Proof Upgrades: Establishes institutional mechanism for future joint programs including Passenger Customer Satisfaction Surveys, infrastructure audits, and specialized staff training

Signing Ceremony

The MoU was signed by Sh. Sudhir Warrier, General Manager/Quality & Projects, IRCTC, and Sh. Subroto Ghosh, Principal Advisor/Head-PPID, Quality Council of India. The signing was witnessed by Sh. Ramanand Nagender Shukla, CEO,NABL and Sh. Mohit Padhi, Asst.Secretary General from Quality Council of India and Sh. Rahul Himalian, Chairman & Managing Director and Sh. Manoj Kumar Sharma, Director/Catering Services from IRCTC.

Strategic Rationale

The partnership leverages QCI's credentials in executing complex, mega-scale public monitoring projects such as SwachhSurvekshan and Pan-India Milk & Food Surveillance for FSSAI, making them the ideal choice for this nationwide railway hospitality upgrade.