Kochi: Finally the Southern Railways has cracked its whip against catering contractors supplying poor quality food in Vande Bharat trains after widespread complaints from public in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Hindu reported.
The Kochi-based Brindavan Food Product who used to supply food in six Vande Bharat trains was fired.
The railways had earlier fired the contractor who continued supplying food after securing a stay order from the Madras High Court which repealed the stay yesterday.
Meanwhile, the railway has temporarily entrusted companies like Food World, Express Foods, Sankalp Caterers and AS Sales Corporation for supplying food in these trains from Thursday onwards.
The mechanical department will handle the onboard housekeeping. The catering contracts for Vande Bharat trains would now be invited by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
Meanwhile, an inspection conducted by the Railway Police recently at Thycaud in Thiruvananthapuram found unhygienic conditions prevailing in the kitchen where meals for Vande Bharat were prepared.
Raids were also conducted in tea shops and around the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station.
Rlys fire VB caterers
