No More Non-Veg Breakfast on Chennai Vande Bharat Menu, Sparking Passenger Outrage
No More Non-Veg Breakfast on Chennai Vande Bharat Menu, Sparking Passenger Outrage
Travellers demand transparency from IRCTC as Southern Railway blames “technical glitch” for removal of non-vegetarian morning meals
Passengers aboard Vande Bharat Express trains from Chennai to Nagercoil, Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Tirunelveli have voiced sharp criticism after discovering that non-vegetarian breakfast options have quietly been removed, with no prior notification from Southern Railway or the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
While booking through the IRCTC app, passengers are now met with a pop-up message that reads: “Non-veg option is applicable for Lunch and Dinner only”, sparking confusion and disappointment among regular travellers.
Manohar, who recently travelled on the Chennai–Nagercoil Vande Bharat, said, “We saw the pop-up while booking but assumed it might be a temporary error. Onboard, we were served only vegetarian breakfast. When I raised this issue with IRCTC on X, they responded saying non-veg is unavailable only during evening tea. That post was later deleted.”
“It’s my right to choose between veg and non-veg meals,” Manohar added. “IRCTC cannot restrict this without prior intimation. It’s unethical.”
Southern Railway general manager R N Singh did not comment, but railway officials have attributed the issue to a “technical glitch” in the IRCTC booking system. However, multiple passengers confirmed that non-vegetarian breakfast has not been served on board for some time, indicating a broader, unannounced policy shift.
Beyond the meal options, passengers are also raising concerns about food quality.
“Initially, they collected feedback during the launch. Now, complaints go unanswered,” said N Muralidharan, a frequent traveller on the Chennai–Tirunelveli route. “The dal is like water, rotis are too hard—especially for elderly passengers and rice portions are just not enough.”
Another commuter on the same route, criticised the menu’s heavy reliance on north Indian cuisine. “The food just doesn’t match our local palate. Many passengers don’t even touch their meals,” he said.
As IRCTC remains silent and feedback channels appear ineffective, passengers are demanding accountability, better meal planning, and the restoration of meal options that cater to diverse preferences including the once-available non-veg breakfast.
