IRCTC announces new wildlife tours and food safety audits

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced two major initiatives to enhance passenger services and tourism. In collaboration with the Maharashtra Forest Department, IRCTC is launching ‘VANDARSHAN’, a series of wildlife tourism packages starting November 19, 2026. These five exclusive itineraries will allow travelers to explore various tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, including Tadoba, Pench, and Navegaon-Nagzira, via organized rail-based travel.

Separately, IRCTC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Quality Council of India (QCI) to implement rigorous food safety and hygiene audits across the Indian Railway network. To address passenger complaints regarding food quality, QCI will deploy certified professionals to conduct unannounced inspections. The audit process will utilize digital infrastructure, including a mobile application with geo-tagging and time-stamping, to ensure transparency and compliance with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations.