CHENNAI: Commuters travelling on Vande Bharat Express trains from Chennai to Nagercoil, Mysuru, Bengaluru and Tirunelveli have expressed outrage after discovering that non-vegetarian breakfast options are no longer available, despite no prior notice from Southern Railway or the catering agency.
Passengers booking tickets on the IRCTC app are now greeted with a popup stating, “Non-veg option is applicable for Lunch and Dinner only” after they enter their personal details and select food preferences.
Southern Railway general manager R N Singh did not respond to queries, but other officials said it was a technical glitch in the IRCTC app and that non-veg options should be available during booking. However, commuters say the reality on board is different.
David Manohar, who travelled on the Chennai-Nagercoil Vande Bharat Express on Friday, said, “We saw the pop-up while booking but proceeded anyway. Onboard, we were served only vegetarian food. When I raised the issue with IRCTC on X, they responded saying non-veg option is unavailable only for evening tea. But the post was later deleted.” “It’s my right to choose between veg and non-veg meals. IRCTC cannot restrict that without informing passengers,” he added.
IRCTC, the public sector unit responsible for catering on premium trains, has yet to issue an official clarification. The trains include meals in their fare, but passengers are increasingly dissatisfied with the quality.
“During the launch, they gave feedback forms. Now, even if we complain, there’s no response,” said N Muralidharan, a frequent traveller between Chennai and Tirunelveli. “The dal is watery, roti is too hard for elderly passengers and rice portions are too small. We’re left with no satisfying meal option.”
A L Selvam, another commuter on the Chennai-Tirunelveli route, said the menu leans heavily on north Indian dishes. “The taste doesn’t suit us. Many passengers just leave the food untouched.”