Vande Bharat Express Passengers Raise Concerns Over Non-Vegetarian Meal Restrictions on Chennai Routes

Chennai, 31st May 2025: Passengers traveling on Vande Bharat Express trains from Chennai have voiced concerns over the absence of non-vegetarian breakfast options, prompting widespread discussion on the social media platform X. The issue came to light after multiple commuters reported restrictions in meal selection while booking tickets and inconsistencies in on-board catering services.

On May 30, 2025, a user posted screenshots from the IRCTC ticketing platform for Train No. 20627 Chennai Egmore–Nagercoil Jn Vande Bharat Express, showing that while booking a journey scheduled for June 26, 2025, the platform displayed a message stating, “Non-veg option is applicable for Lunch or Dinner only.” This alert appeared despite the train’s departure time of 05:00 AM and arrival at 01:50 PM, a duration that typically includes both breakfast and lunch.

The post, which read, “#IRCTC doesn’t allow choosing Non Veg food, while booking tickets on #VandeBharat from Chennai – Nagercoil. It’s atrocious,” quickly gained traction, with several users tagging railway authorities and political figures, demanding clarification and action.

Passengers Highlight Service Gaps in Meal Delivery

Adding to the grievances, another user traveling on Train No. 22436 (Coach C6) on May 31, 2025, reported that 11 passengers who had paid for non-vegetarian meals were not served bread and butter. The catering manager reportedly dismissed the lapse as “normal.” The passenger shared the incident with a video, urging authorities to ensure proper meal allocation and accountability from catering staff.

IRCTC and Southern Railway Respond

In response to the growing public concern, Southern Railway and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) issued statements on X on May 31, 2025, stating that no changes had been made to the non-vegetarian meal policy on Vande Bharat trains. However, they did not directly address the discrepancies reported on specific routes such as Chennai-Nagercoil, Chennai-Mysuru, and Chennai-Tirunelveli.

IRCTC further clarified in a reply to one affected passenger that their ticket, booked under PNR 4419114819, had a vegetarian meal selected at the time of booking, and that a “large number of non-veg meals were booked through the App/Website on this train on the said date.” The corporation added, “We shall be happy to address any other concern you may have.”

Growing Passenger Dissatisfaction

Despite the official clarification, commuters continue to report inconsistent food services, particularly regarding the availability of non-vegetarian meals during breakfast hours. The Vande Bharat Express, widely known for its modern amenities and premium experience, has faced multiple rounds of feedback over its catering quality, hygiene, and menu diversity.

As of now, there has been no further detailed explanation from IRCTC or the Railway Ministry on the specific restrictions observed on the Chennai-originating Vande Bharat routes. Passengers are actively using X to demand greater transparency, consistent service standards, and improved meal options onboard.