IRCTC reinforces its AI monitoring system to ensure hygiene and quality of food in trains, Pg4

Key Highlights:

• IRCTC has expanded its AI-based monitoring system to over 800 kitchens preparing food for Indian Railways.
• The system utilizes 2,394 cameras to detect nine types of unhygienic factors, including staff compliance and pest presence.
• It generates an average of 350 alerts daily, with 13,550 tickets recorded in the last month.
• Indian Railways served approximately 60 crore meals to passengers in 2025-26.
• The Railway Ministry recently fined IRCTC Rs 10 lakh for poor food quality on a Vande Bharat train.
• Over 19,000 food-related complaints were received in the last five years, leading to 3,137 fines.

Detailed Insights:

• The AI monitoring system, operational for two-and-a-half years, aims to significantly reduce passenger complaints regarding food quality.
• Alerts are escalated if not resolved within two hours, ensuring prompt corrective action against detected violations.
• Hairnet non-compliance is identified as the most frequent hygiene violation detected by the automated system.
• The system's effective error rate is approximately 10%, occasionally flagging minor deviations as violations.
• Seasonal weather changes are recognized as a challenging period for maintaining consistent food quality in railway kitchens.
• The increase in food-related complaints from 253 in FY21 to 6,645 in 2024-25 highlights persistent challenges in catering services.
• This initiative underscores the government's commitment to leveraging technology adoption for improved public service delivery and consumer protection.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems, for tasks like visual recognition.
• IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation): A subsidiary of Indian Railways responsible for catering, tourism, and online ticketing services.
• Public Service Delivery: The provision of essential services by government or public sector organizations to citizens.
• Consumer Protection: Laws and regulations designed to safeguard the rights of consumers and ensure fair trade practices.