AAP MP Sanjay Singh’s Wife Slams Tejas Express Food, IRCTC Says No Other Complaints Received

Last Updated:July 14, 2025, 14:17 IST

After Anita Singh called the Tejas Express food “utterly deplorable,” IRCTC said no other passengers had complained but acknowledged her feedback and assured appropriate follow-up

Anita Singh, wife of AAP MP Sanjay Singh, termed the food served on the Tejas Express “utterly deplorable.”

Anita Singh, wife of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, has stirred a heated conversation online after she publicly criticised the quality of food served on the Tejas Express, one of Indian Railways’ flagship premium trains. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), she shared an image of her in-train meal and lambasted the catering, claiming the roti was “as hard as papad," the paneer was stale, and the dal was nothing more than water.

Her post questioned the credibility of the Tejas Express’s much-publicised “world-class" service, tagging the Railway Ministry and Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw: “The food served on the Tejas Express was utterly deplorable. The roti was as hard as papad, the paneer was stale, and instead of dal, only water was served. Is this the railway’s ‘world-class’ service? Stop playing with passengers’ health."

IRCTC Responds

In a prompt response, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) defended its services while acknowledging Anita Singh’s concerns. The official reply noted that food quality is inspected before being served and that no other complaints had been reported from passengers in her coach. The IRCTC added that its onboard team had offered a replacement meal and assured that a senior official had now been appointed to ensure better compliance with food quality norms going forward.

“Concerning the feedback regarding catering services provided by you on 11/07/25 in the New Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express train, we wish to inform you that the quality of the food is checked before serving, and no complaints in this regard have been received from other passengers in the said coach; rather, the catering has generally been appreciated. The catering team available on the train attended to you and also offered a replacement meal. Nevertheless, taking your feedback seriously and to further strengthen the quality, a senior official has been appointed to ensure compliance with all standards, and appropriate guidelines will be ensured accordingly," the IRCTC said.

Online Users Call Out IRCTC’s ‘Defensive Tone’

IRCTC’s response failed to pacify many users online, with several accusing the railway body of deflecting legitimate criticism instead of addressing deeper, systemic issues. Many supported Anita Singh’s observations, citing similar experiences on other premium trains.

One user commented: “Unsatisfactory response by the Railways. This is not the first time concerns have been raised about food quality, mismanagement, and even misbehaviour by pantry staff. Immediate action against the vendor is needed."

Another sharply remarked: “This reply from IRCTC exposes the rot within the system. Overcharging for meals and water is rampant across trains, not just one. Passengers do complain, but your staff turns a blind eye every time."

A third user highlighted a pattern: “IRCTC, you can’t run away from your responsibilities. I recently travelled on the Bhopal Shatabdi and faced the same issue. People don’t bother complaining anymore because they know nothing will change."

A fourth added: “IRCTC seems to be in denial. The easiest way to escape complaints is to deny them altogether."

And a fifth user noted: “Just because others aren’t complaining doesn’t mean the food is of good quality. I’ve stopped eating pantry meals altogether—they’re extremely unhygienic."

Not The First Time

This incident is not the first time passengers have raised concerns about catering on Indian trains, including premium services like the Tejas Express. While several users backed Anita Singh’s criticism and shared similar experiences, others argued that individual complaints should not overshadow broader efforts to modernise railway services.

Over the past few years, Indian Railways has made visible strides in enhancing travel comfort, punctuality, and amenities—especially through trains like Tejas and Vande Bharat. However, recurring feedback on food quality highlights that consistency in service delivery remains an area for improvement. The challenge lies not just in upgrading infrastructure but also in ensuring that high standards are maintained uniformly across routes and vendors.

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