Every day some complaints keep coming up regarding the railways. Now another similar complaint has come to light, in which it has been seen that the catering company was cooking food in the train using LPG cylinders. Investigation revealed that the employees of the private catering firm were cooking food using LPG cylinders in the pantry car of Purva Express, violating safety norms.

The Railway Board had on June 2, 2022 asked all zones to ensure a ban on on-board cooking to prevent the associated fire safety risks. Private contractors appointed to provide catering services to passengers were directed to take food from various base kitchens set up near stations across the rail network.

Railway officials took strict action

But after such complaints surfaced, the railway authorities have taken strict action. According to the documents, IRCTC granted temporary license to "RK Associates for managing on-board catering service in train number 12381-12382 Howrah New Delhi Poorva Express for the period from 24-07-2024 to 14-07-2029.

One of the conditions for granting licence for catering service is that the firm will collect prepared food from various designated pick-up points near the outside base kitchen and will not cook onboard.

IRCTC had warned earlier also 

Railway officials said the firm was earlier found violating the conditions during inspection by IRCTC officials and a warning letter was issued to it, but the company failed to mend its ways. "It has come to our notice that train no. 12303-04/81-82 Howrah-New Delhi Poorva Express is not taking food from the base kitchen at Howrah which is a violation of rules," a warning letter from IRCTC said.