Railway board permits flameless cooking in pantry cars due to LPG shortage

Mumbai: In a move aimed at ensuring uninterrupted onboard catering services, the Railway Board permitted the use of flameless cooking systems in pantry cars, allowing staff to prepare meals inside trains during the ongoing LPG supply constraints.

In a letter dated March 12, addressed to the principal chief commercial managers of all railway zones and the CMD of IRCTC, the Railway Board allowed the use of flameless cooking in pantry cars during emergency situations, subject to strict adherence to safety protocols.


Earlier, pantry cars were permitted only to heat pre-cooked or ready-to-eat meals. The new directive, though, allows basic cooking using flameless technology, railway officials said.

The communication issued by the deputy director (catering), Railway Board, states: "Flameless cooking is permitted in pantry cars during such emergency situations, but only if all safety protocols and measures are strictly followed."

Flameless cooking involves the use of equipment such as induction stoves, microwaves and other electric cooking appliances that do not require open flames, making them suitable for use inside train coaches.

The decision comes amid a shortage of LPG cylinders that disrupted catering logistics across several routes. Officials said the move will enable pantry car staff to prepare meals onboard if food supplies through other channels become limited.

Railways currently serve about 4.5 lakh meals every day across Central Railway and Western Railway. Of these, around 40% are packaged meals, another 40% are ready-to-eat items, while the remaining 20% comprise beverages, officials said.

While e-catering services, through which passengers order food from stations en route, continue to operate, officials said the LPG shortage could affect vendors at stations if the supply situation worsens.

"Earlier, pantry cars could only reheat ready-to-eat food. With flameless cooking now permitted, staff can prepare basic meals onboard if required, ensuring passengers are not inconvenienced," a senior railway official said.

Railway sources said the daily requirement of LPG cylinders for catering operations across Central and Western Railway is around 1,000, though supply for cluster kitchens in Mumbai did not yet emerge as a major concern.

Railways already served ready-to-eat meals on premium trains such as Vande Bharat and Rajdhani, but the latest permission gives pantry car operators greater flexibility to maintain food supply during disruptions.