Delhi's latest move to strengthen its Food Safety Department raises an important question for the hospitality industry: Is the answer to food safety simply more inspections, or does the system need deeper accountability across the food supply chain?

The Delhi government has announced plans to modernise the department's inspection system with advanced technology and increase its staff strength. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the measures are intended to ensure faster inspections and timely action against irregularities.

The announcement comes amid an ongoing crackdown on suspected food adulteration. In one recent enforcement drive, officials seized 948.9 litres of ghee from Bhogal Market, Najafgarh Market and Shiv Vihar. The government has also indicated that the campaign will continue throughout the year, with a helpline available for public complaints.

While the seizure highlights the importance of enforcement, it also raises questions about how effectively food quality is monitored before products reach consumers. A seizure does not, by itself, establish the extent of adulteration or identify where failures occurred in the supply chain.

For hotels, restaurants, catering companies and institutional kitchens, food safety is not limited to the final stage of preparation. It begins with sourcing ingredients, verifying suppliers, maintaining storage temperatures, preventing cross-contamination and ensuring hygienic handling throughout operations.

More inspectors and better technology could improve the department's ability to identify violations. However, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on how frequently inspections are conducted, how quickly complaints are investigated and whether violations result in consistent corrective action.

There is also a larger responsibility for food businesses. Establishments cannot treat regulatory inspections as their primary food safety mechanism. Regular internal audits, staff training, supplier verification and transparent procurement practices must become part of everyday operations.

For an industry built on consumer trust, a food safety incident can affect more than one establishment. It can influence public confidence in restaurants, hotels and the wider dining sector.

Delhi's proposed revamp is a necessary step. But the real measure of its success will not be the number of inspections conducted or the volume of products seized. It will be whether consumers can trust the food they are served, every day.

Digi Yatra is taking another step towards making airport travel faster and more convenient, with trials to extend its contactless passenger processing system to eligible international departures at seven Indian airports. The programme is scheduled to go live on November 1, 2026, following the beta phase, with trials planned through December.

The three-month programme covers Indian nationals holding e-passports who are travelling internationally on Air India and IndiGo. The trials will take place at Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar airports. Eligible passengers will be able to use Digi Yatra at enabled terminal entry points, security hold areas and boarding gates, subject to infrastructure availability.

The programme will cover all international destinations served by Air India and select destinations served by IndiGo. Passenger feedback gathered during the trials will help inform plans for a wider rollout in 2027.

Digi Yatra uses facial recognition technology to verify a passenger's identity at participating airport checkpoints. After registering on the app and linking their flight details, passengers can use their face as a digital identity token at enabled touchpoints, reducing the need to repeatedly present a boarding pass and identity documents.

The system aims to simplify airport entry, security checks and boarding through dedicated lanes and contactless verification. However, as digital technology becomes a larger part of the passenger journey, its success will depend not only on convenience but also on public awareness, privacy safeguards and passenger confidence.

Building Trust Through Transparency

While Digi Yatra offers the potential for smoother airport movement, concerns around consent, biometric data and the handling of personal information have raised questions about how the system should be implemented.

Passengers have previously raised allegations of being registered for Digi Yatra by airport staff without their explicit permission or informed consent. Questions have also emerged around data governance, software ownership and the management of passenger information. Legal challenges have further brought attention to the collection, storage and processing of personal and biometric data. These concerns highlight the importance of clear guidelines and transparent communication from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the organisations responsible for operating the system.

First, passengers should receive simple and accessible information explaining how Digi Yatra works, what information is collected, how it is used, who can access it and how long it is retained. The process for withdrawing consent and understanding available alternatives should also be clearly communicated.

Second, participation must be based on informed consent. Passengers should not feel pressured to register or use facial recognition technology to access airport services. Clear procedures should be established to prevent unauthorised enrolment and ensure that travellers understand their choices before signing up.

Third, strong data protection and cybersecurity measures are essential. The authorities should clearly communicate the safeguards in place, conduct regular independent security audits and establish accountability for any misuse, unauthorised access or data breach. Clear rules governing data retention, deletion and access by third parties would help passengers better understand how their information is protected.

The Ministry should also make information about the system's technical and operational safeguards available in language that ordinary travellers can understand. Transparency around software management, data custody and responsibility for protecting passenger information can help address concerns and strengthen public confidence.

Making Digi Yatra Accessible to Every Passenger

Awareness is equally important to ensuring that passengers can use Digi Yatra confidently. Airports and airlines should provide clear instructions through websites, mobile applications, airport displays, announcements and dedicated assistance counters.

The information should explain registration, flight-detail linking, facial verification and the locations where Digi Yatra can be used. Passengers should also know what to do if facial verification fails, their travel details do not match or the system is temporarily unavailable.

Senior citizens and passengers who are unfamiliar with digital services may require additional assistance. Dedicated help desks, trained airport personnel and clear step-by-step guidance can make the process easier for those who need support. Assistance should be available without making passengers feel obliged to enrol in the system.

Importantly, airports must continue to provide accessible alternatives for passengers who choose not to use facial recognition technology. Conventional document verification should remain available, with clear signage and sufficient staff to help passengers complete their journey without unnecessary delays.

Convenience Must Go Hand in Hand with Confidence

The expansion of Digi Yatra to international departures could make airport processes more efficient and reduce repeated document checks. However, the benefits will be meaningful only if passengers understand the system and trust the way their information is handled.

As the trials progress, feedback should be used not only to improve processing speed but also to identify concerns around privacy, accessibility and ease of use. A transparent complaints and grievance-redressal mechanism would give passengers a clear route to report problems and seek assistance.

Digi Yatra represents an opportunity to make air travel smoother through digital innovation. Building lasting public trust, however, will require the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the relevant authorities to place informed consent, data protection, accessibility and accountability at the centre of its expansion.

Indian Railways has directed all zonal railways to strictly enforce the rule of switching off mobile phone and laptop charging points in train coaches between 11 pm and 5 am. The decision follows a recent power bank explosion on the Mumbai–Howrah Mail in the South Eastern Railway zone, which reportedly filled an air-conditioned coach with smoke and triggered the fire alarm.

According to reports, railway staff had failed to switch off the charging points during the prescribed hours, allowing a passenger's power bank to explode while it was being charged. The incident has renewed concerns about the risks associated with leaving electronic devices connected to power sources while passengers sleep.

The rule is not new. The Railway Board first issued instructions to switch off charging points in train coaches in June 2014, following a fire in an AC 3-tier coach of the Hazur Sahib Nanded–KSR Bengaluru Express in 2013. The incident occurred within the Bengaluru division of South Western Railway.

Following that fire, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Southern Circle, recommended restricting the use of charging points in air-conditioned coaches between 10 pm and 6 am. The Railway Board subsequently introduced the overnight restriction, but enforcement has reportedly weakened over the years. The latest directive calls on all zones to implement the existing rule strictly.

The renewed focus is on preventing fire hazards caused by unattended electronic devices. Phones, laptops and power banks left charging overnight can pose risks if their batteries, chargers or cables are faulty. Overheating can lead to fires and smoke, creating additional dangers in enclosed train coaches, particularly when passengers are asleep.

Railway authorities have also highlighted the risk of theft, as passengers may leave their phones connected to charging points while sleeping. Switching off the sockets overnight is intended to reduce these risks and encourage passengers to charge their devices before the restriction begins or after it ends.

The move has received mixed reactions from passengers. While many understand the safety concerns, others have raised questions about the inconvenience during long-distance journeys. Mobile phones are often needed to access digital tickets, contact family members, set alarms and communicate during emergencies. Passengers have also questioned how the restriction will affect them if a train is delayed or a journey extends beyond the expected schedule.

Some travellers have suggested alternative measures, including stricter standards for chargers and power banks or targeted restrictions on potentially unsafe devices. However, the Railway Board's current approach focuses on enforcing the existing overnight charging restriction across train services.

For passengers travelling overnight, the practical advice is to charge mobile phones and other essential devices before boarding or before 11 pm. Travellers should avoid leaving devices unattended while charging and immediately alert railway staff if a phone, charger or power bank becomes unusually hot, produces a burning smell or emits smoke.

By reinforcing the existing rule, Indian Railways aims to reduce preventable fire risks and improve safety during overnight journeys. Passengers, meanwhile, will need to plan their device usage around the six-hour period when onboard charging points are switched off.