IRCTC Confirms: Meals Not Mandatory on Rajdhani, Shatabdi, or Vande Bharat; ‘No Food’ Option Still Available During Booking
IRCTC Confirms: Meals Not Mandatory on Rajdhani, Shatabdi, or Vande Bharat; ‘No Food’ Option Still Available During Booking
Pune, October 28: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has clarified that meals are not mandatory on Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat Express trains, putting to rest confusion that spread after passengers noticed changes on the booking page.
Many users had reported that meal options appeared compulsory on the IRCTC website and app, sparking claims that Indian Railways had made onboard catering mandatory. However, railway officials have confirmed that passengers can still choose the ‘No Food’ option while booking tickets.
A senior railway official told The Indian Express that the feature had not been removed but only repositioned. “The option to opt out of meals is available on the same page,” the official said, adding that passengers can continue to book tickets without food service if they wish.
IRCTC, which manages ticketing, catering, and tourism for Indian Railways, said passengers still have full flexibility when selecting meals.
How to book without meals on IRCTC:
- Log in to your IRCTC account.
- Enter travel details and select your preferred train.
- Proceed to “Book Now.”
- On the Passenger Reservation Page, scroll to “Other Preferences.”
- Choose “I don’t want Food/Beverages.”
Selecting this ensures catering charges are excluded from your fare. If no option is chosen, the system automatically includes meal charges.
On the Vande Bharat Express, meals remain optional for Chair Car passengers but may be included in the Executive Chair Car fare, depending on the route. For Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express services, passengers who opt out at the time of booking will not be billed for meals.
Officials have reiterated that the “No Food” option remains active and visible on the booking page, ensuring transparency and flexibility for all travelers using the IRCTC portal.
