• Source:JND
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CHENNAI: Passengers on Vande Bharat Express trains from Chennai to Nagercoil, Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Tirunelveli are frustrated after discovering that non-vegetarian breakfast is no longer being served onboard. Travellers claim there was no prior notice from Southern Railway or the catering provider about this change, leading to confusion and disappointment.

Commuters booking tickets through the IRCTC app now see a popup message after selecting their food preference, stating, “Non-veg option is applicable for Lunch and Dinner only.” While some railway officials attributed the issue to a technical glitch in the IRCTC app, assuring that non-veg options should still be available, passengers argue that the onboard experience tells a different story.

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.” He added, “It’s my right to choose between veg and non-veg meals. IRCTC cannot restrict that without informing passengers.”

"Sorry for the inconvenience. However, we have checked the IRCTC Booking Platform wherein your Ticket booked under PNR 4419114819 shows that only veg meal was selected during the ticket booking.
It is informed that a large number of non-veg meals were booked through the App/Website on this train on the said date. We shall be happy to address any other concern you may have," IRCTC responded.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which handles catering on premium trains, has not yet issued any official clarification on the matter. Although the ticket fare includes meals, passengers are increasingly dissatisfied with the food quality and variety.

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“During the launch, they gave feedback forms. Now, even if we complain, there’s no response,” said N Muralidharan, a regular traveller on the Chennai-Tirunelveli route wrote tOI. “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.”

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A L Selvam, another commuter on the same route, pointed out the lack of local flavours in the food served. “The menu leans heavily on north Indian dishes. The taste doesn’t suit us. Many passengers just leave the food untouched,” he said.