The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has deployed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based surveillance system across more than 800 base kitchens nationwide. The technology enables real-time monitoring of food preparation activities and helps ensure strict compliance with hygiene and safety standards.The AI-powered system live-streams operations from these kitchens and is integrated with a centralized War Room in New Delhi. It is designed to detect hygiene violations and operational lapses instantly, enabling prompt corrective action.According to IRCTC officials, AI-enabled cameras can identify a range of violations, including kitchen staff not wearing mandatory protective gear such as caps or hairnets. Once a violation is detected, the system automatically generates tickets alerting the monitoring team, which then immediately informs the concerned personnel to rectify the issue.The technology is also capable of detecting rodents, cockroaches, and other hygiene hazards, allowing authorities to intervene before food safety is compromised.“Detection is one part and action is another part,” an official said, emphasizing that the system is focused not only on identifying violations but also on ensuring immediate corrective measures.The initiative comes as IRCTC manages an increasingly large catering operation. According to officials , the catering arm of the Indian Railway had supplied more than 16 lakh meals daily last year and currently serving around 18 lakh meals every day across the railway network.Managing such a vast operation has posed significant challenges, prompting IRCTC to adopt advanced technologies. Officials said the AI-based monitoring system is helping the organization minimize operational challenges and convert them into opportunities for improving service quality and compliance.The expansion of the kitchen network gained momentum after the government introduced a policy in November 2023 promoting cluster kitchens, leading to the creation of an extensive nationwide catering infrastructure that now requires continuous monitoring and quality control.Meanwhile, food safety concerns remain under scrutiny. Following a notice from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), IRCTC recently issued a notice to a licensee over complaints related to serious food safety and hygiene violations reported onboard the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Ernakulam Duronto Express. The action was taken after the food regulator flagged concerns regarding the quality and handling of food served to passengers.IRCTC officials maintain that the deployment of AI-driven monitoring systems is a key part of the corporation’s broader strategy to strengthen food safety standards, ensure compliance, and deliver a better dining experience to millions of railway passengers every day.