Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Ved Prakash imposed penalties of Rs 1 lakh each on a catering contractor and a linen supplier after a surprise inspection of the New Delhi–Sabarmati Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani Express uncovered service deficiencies.

Prakash travelled on the Delhi-bound train and interacted with over 100 passengers across First AC, Second AC and Third AC coaches. The inspection focused on cleanliness, housekeeping, catering services and linen quality.

During the review, the DRM found that fresh linen was not being supplied in several 3AC coaches, resulting in a Rs 1 lakh fine on the vendor. Complaints from passengers about the quality of rice served in onboard meals were also verified, leading to a similar penalty on the catering contractor.

Railway officials said the exercise was aimed at improving service quality and passenger satisfaction through direct feedback. Passengers suggested introducing dedicated workspaces or a separate working coach in premium trains for laptop users.

Senior citizens and women passengers also raised concerns regarding safety and the allocation of lower berths. DeshGujarat