In a major move to protect railway passengers from food safety, financial and cyber security risks, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched an extensive crackdown on unauthorized e-catering websites and mobile applications operating across the Indian Railways network.
IRCTC has initiated legal and criminal proceedings against several unauthorized food delivery operators accused of misusing its branding and offering unregulated food services. The action follows a legal notice issued on February 18, 2026, and subsequent criminal complaints filed in March and April this year.
The drive has led to action against multiple websites, including railrestro.com, railmitra.com, travelkhana.com, trainscafe.com and several other platforms found violating norms related to food delivery and passenger data handling.
According to IRCTC, unauthorized operators pose serious health risks by sourcing meals from eateries that may not comply with FSSAI standards. They also expose passengers to potential cyber fraud by collecting sensitive information such as PNR details, phone numbers and payment credentials without adequate safeguards.
IRCTC has urged passengers to order meals only through its official e-Catering platform, the Food on Track mobile application, the 1323 call centre service, or authorised partner platforms to ensure hygienic food, secure payments and reliable customer support.
The e-Catering service currently operates at over 400 railway stations and is supported by more than 6,200 vendors and aggregators. In April 2026 alone, the platform recorded an average of over 1.55 lakh meal bookings per day, reflecting its growing popularity among rail travellers.
With partnerships spanning leading food brands and major aggregators, IRCTC said it remains committed to providing safe, hygienic and quality food services while taking stringent action against unauthorized operators.
(Image source: Wikimedia)
