India, June 11 -- As many as 15 e-catering websites have been banned after the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) came across fake portals that were posing as its official partners and delivering food to long-distance train passengers. The issue is particularly significant for Mumbai, where thousands of passengers board long-distance trains every day from its many terminuses.

IRCTC has been getting hundreds of complaints about the fake e-catering portals: in the west zone alone, around 300 to 400 complaints pertain to these. Passengers have reported issues ranging from non-delivery of meals and poor food quality to refund disputes and lack of customer support.

IRCTC has initiated legal and criminal proceedings again...