Vande Bharat Trains To Serve Regional Cuisine As Indian Railways Revamps Onboard Meals

Early mornings on India’s Vande Bharat trains often begin with the familiar sight of passengers settling into their seats as tea and breakfast trays roll down the aisle. Soon, those trays may look very different. Instead of a standardised menu, travellers could be offered dishes that reflect the regions they pass through. The change is part of a new plan by the Indian Railways to introduce local cuisine onboard Vande Bharat trains, aiming to link travel with regional food traditions.The move follows directions from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during a review meeting at Rail Bhawan. The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu. Officials have been instructed to serve region-specific dishes to passengers as trains travel across different states.Local Cuisine Plan To Be Expanded Across The NetworkIn a statement, the Ministry of Railways said that the minister instructed officials to incorporate local cuisine on Vande Bharat routes so that meals match the cultural and culinary identity of the areas being travelled through. According to the ministry, the introduction of such food options can improve the overall passenger experience, especially for those who travel long distances and prefer food that is familiar or linked to local ingredients.The ministry added that the initiative will begin with Vande Bharat trains but will eventually be extended to other services. The rollout is expected to take place in phases, allowing the catering system to adapt to varied menus that may change depending on the route.Railway officials have indicated that the menus will be designed to highlight regional specialities, such as idli and dosa in the southern sectors or dhokla and thepla in the western sectors. Additional details, including suppliers and implementation timelines, are expected to be announced in the coming months.Railways Reports Progress In Tackling Fake Ticketing AccountsDuring the same review meeting, the minister also discussed progress on improving the ticket booking system. Vaishnaw stated that recent measures aimed at curbing ticketing through fake or fraudulent identities have begun to show results. Officials have strengthened the online verification system on the IRCTC platform, making it harder for users to create multiple accounts using false credentials.According to figures shared by the ministry, Indian Railways has already deactivated more than 3.03 crore fake user accounts. Another 2.7 crore accounts have been temporarily suspended or flagged for suspicious activity. These steps are part of a larger effort to ensure that ticket sales remain transparent and accessible to legitimate users.The ministry noted that before the reforms were introduced, the IRCTC system was seeing nearly one lakh new accounts created every day. After the verification process was tightened, the number of new daily registrations has come down to about 5,000. Officials believe this reflects a decline in attempts to use fake identities to block or hoard tickets.Vaishnaw and Bittu directed officials to continue improving the ticketing platform so that every user booking a ticket does so through a verified, genuine identity. They also reviewed the existing safeguards and discussed future enhancements that may help streamline bookings during high-demand periods.(With inputs from multiple news reports)FAQsWhat changes are coming to food on Vande Bharat trains?Indian Railways plans to introduce region-specific dishes on Vande Bharat trains, allowing passengers to enjoy local cuisine as the train passes through different states.Which types of regional dishes may be served on Vande Bharat trains?Officials have indicated that menus could include items like idli and dosa in southern regions and dhokla or thepla in western India, depending on the route.When will regional cuisine be introduced on Vande Bharat trains?The rollout is expected to happen in phases, though Indian Railways has not yet announced a fixed timeline.Will regional food be introduced on other trains as well?Yes, the Railways has stated that the initiative will begin with Vande Bharat trains and may later be expanded to other services.What action has Indian Railways taken against fake IRCTC accounts?Indian Railways has deactivated over 3.03 crore fake IRCTC accounts and flagged another 2.7 crore for suspicious activity to improve ticket booking transparency.Indian Railways Revises Quotas On Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat To Improve Ticket Access For Kerala Travellers