Non supply of food by eCatering service of IRCTC.

In any other country, the authorities would double bend with apologies and try to make up for the lapse in service. Alas, in our country customer seldom is treated with priority. Yeh kab talak chalega ? more  

It’s shocking. Must sue in consumer forum more  

Such violation happens in every part of Railways. Sometimes back my train was delayed by 5 hours at night for a 4 hours journey (Udupi-GOA) so we came back and filed refund request well before the train arrived. To my surprise IR replied that I had undertaken that journey so no refund. For your information the SM and other staffs refused to endorse the ticket while leaving the station. Such is the corruption at IR. We are helpless AAM ADMI in front of all Govt corruption. more  

I am really shocked to learn your experience. I booked such meals twice this year October-November period and both times I was served hot food exactly what I wanted. But I am forced to rethink my position after hearing your experiences. One thing I can mention that if you book through the IRCTC "Food on Track" app. then you have to enter your PNR and the app shows you the entire route chart with normal time of reaching those stations so that you can book your breakfast, lunch or dinner accordingly. You choose a station and a list of restaurants appear with menu and their prices. You should choose a station keeping in mind the possible delay during actual journey. Also you should choose a big station where multiple suppliers are available for better choice. Many stations would not have any such food providers at all. As far as I know Hijli is a very small station which has not facility at all. Just to divert trains from Kharagpur, Railway is using it as a stop gap arrangement. You hardly can find a suitable conveyance to Kharagpur which is only 4 km. away. Many a time there is not even an auto rickshaw to ply. So who is going to serve you food there? I do not understand how IRCTC is going to deliver food at such an odd place. So I suggest you to book a meal always through that "Food on Track" app. and choose an appropriate station/junction where proper stalls are there serving hot food. Choose the vendor, order the food from the menu and then opt for "cash on delivery" payment method. This way you can avoid such embarrassing situation. And you don't pay until the food is served properly to you at the designated station. Further, the vendor will separately contact you over phone to the number that you have mentioned in your application for booking the ticket, they will also inform you the expected time of arrival and in case of late running would ask you if you want to cancel the order or continue despite delayed arrival at that station. So this will be always a win-win situation for you. But I wonder how such a Government agency like IRCTC is playing such nasty games with their clients as people will lose faith in their integrity. In business, if you lose credibility, you lose everything. I deeply deplore such dirty ethics of IRCTC and suggest you to book the meals the way I suggested above to avoid such harassment. Happy journey! more  

violation of the service after taking the money is worse and full refund required at any time or file a suit. more