Central Railway Food Price Hike: Vada Pav, Samosa Rates Increased At Stations From June 1
Central Railway Food Price Hike: Vada Pav, Samosa Rates Increased At Stations From June 1
Passengers travelling through Central Railway stations in Mumbai and nearby regions will soon have to spend more on snacks and food items, as revised food prices come into effect from June 1 amid rising inflation and operational costs.
Commuters travelling through Central Railway stations will soon feel the impact of inflation on their daily food expenses. From June 1, the prices of several popular food items sold at railway station stalls are set to increase significantly, adding to the financial burden on ordinary passengers.
According to the revised tariff announced by railway authorities, the price of vada pav will rise from Rs 13 to Rs 20, while samosa prices will jump from Rs 12 to Rs 20. Other commonly purchased snacks such as ragda bread, dry bhel and chutney bhel have also become more expensive.
As per the updated rate list, ragda bread will now cost Rs 25 instead of Rs 20, dry bhel has increased from Rs 20 to Rs 25, and chutney bhel will rise from Rs 25 to Rs 30.
However, there is some relief for passengers as the prices of beverages like orange juice, grapefruit juice and apple juice have not been increased.
Railway officials stated that food prices on Western Railway stations were revised earlier in 2025 and before that in 2021. Now, Central Railway has also decided to implement revised rates at station food stalls.
Along with the price revision, some new food items are expected to be introduced at station stalls. These include slush drinks, cream donuts, soup, dosa and noodles.
The decision, however, has triggered strong opposition from members of the catering association. Representatives from the association alleged that railway authorities are increasingly favouring branded packaged products over locally sold food items.
An official from the association claimed that restrictions have already been imposed on the loose sale of traditional local products such as milkshakes, chickpeas, peanuts and chikki at several railway stations. According to the association, branded products are often two to three times more expensive than locally sold alternatives, which may further increase the financial burden on daily commuters.
The association also raised concerns regarding the quality and packaging standards of some branded products being prioritised at railway stalls. Members warned that if similar policies continue for other food items in future, ordinary passengers and small vendors may suffer financially.
The revised food prices come at a time when inflation and rising living costs are already affecting household budgets across Mumbai and Maharashtra. With lakhs of commuters depending on railway station snacks for affordable daily meals during travel, even small increases in prices are expected to have a noticeable impact on regular passengers.
