New Delhi, February 7: Passengers on Vande Bharat trains can now buy food on board even if they did not choose any meal options during ticket booking, according to a recent announcement by the Railway Board.
The board stated in a circular addressed to the chairman and managing director of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) that in order to enhance service options for passengers who booked tickets recently or those who opted out of meal selection, the sale and distribution of food during the journey can be reinstated.
In addition, the provision of cooked meals will be made available for those who did not pre-order food, alongside the pre-packaged Ready to Eat (RTE) meal options when available.
Officials from the railway department noted that many passengers had lodged complaints regarding the refusal of IRCTC staff to serve food to those who opted out of pre-booking, even if they expressed willingness to pay for the meals.
“There are instances when passengers, having not chosen a prepaid food option during booking, find themselves in a situation during travel where they wish to purchase food. Previously, the IRCTC staff would often deny these requests even with payment offered.
“As a policy update, we have now determined that passengers who did not opt for meals can also access safe and quality food on board,” an official explained.
The Railway Board’s circular urged the IRCTC to implement swift measures to ensure that passengers receive hygienic and high-quality food during their travels.
Furthermore, to minimize inconvenience for passengers, the IRCTC has been instructed to manage food sales through carts within regulated time frames, with no sales permitted after 9 PM or after dinner service, whichever comes first.
New Delhi, February 7: Passengers on Vande Bharat trains can now buy food on board even if they did not choose any meal options during ticket booking, according to a recent announcement by the Railway Board.
The board stated in a circular addressed to the chairman and managing director of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) that in order to enhance service options for passengers who booked tickets recently or those who opted out of meal selection, the sale and distribution of food during the journey can be reinstated.
In addition, the provision of cooked meals will be made available for those who did not pre-order food, alongside the pre-packaged Ready to Eat (RTE) meal options when available.
Officials from the railway department noted that many passengers had lodged complaints regarding the refusal of IRCTC staff to serve food to those who opted out of pre-booking, even if they expressed willingness to pay for the meals.
“There are instances when passengers, having not chosen a prepaid food option during booking, find themselves in a situation during travel where they wish to purchase food. Previously, the IRCTC staff would often deny these requests even with payment offered.
“As a policy update, we have now determined that passengers who did not opt for meals can also access safe and quality food on board,” an official explained.
The Railway Board’s circular urged the IRCTC to implement swift measures to ensure that passengers receive hygienic and high-quality food during their travels.
Furthermore, to minimize inconvenience for passengers, the IRCTC has been instructed to manage food sales through carts within regulated time frames, with no sales permitted after 9 PM or after dinner service, whichever comes first.
