Chennai Vande Bharat trains drop non veg breakfast
Passengers aboard Vande Bharat Express trains originating from Chennai have voiced strong discontent over the sudden removal of non-vegetarian breakfast options, citing lack of prior communication and confusion during booking.
Travellers on the Chennai-Nagercoil, Chennai-Mysuru, Chennai-Bengaluru, and Chennai-Tirunelveli routes reported receiving only vegetarian meals in the morning, even though their ticket fare includes onboard catering. The move has sparked criticism from frequent passengers who claim their right to meal preferences is being ignored. While booking tickets via the IRCTC app, users are met with a message reading: “Non-veg option is applicable for Lunch and Dinner only”. No official announcement was made by Southern Railway or IRCTC in advance, leading to further frustration among commuters. David Manohar, a passenger on the Chennai-Nagercoil route, said, “We saw the pop-up but assumed breakfast would still include a non-veg option. Onboard, only vegetarian food was served. I posted about it on X, and IRCTC replied saying the non-veg option was unavailable only for evening tea. They deleted the post later.”
Southern Railway officials suggested it might be a “technical glitch” in the IRCTC booking system. However, passengers say the issue persists onboard, indicating a broader operational change that has not been officially acknowledged. The dissatisfaction is not limited to the menu change. Travellers are also raising concerns about food quality and lack of regional options. “The roti is too hard, the dal is watery, and rice portions are small. For elderly passengers, this is unacceptable,” said N Muralidharan, a regular on the Chennai-Tirunelveli line. Another passenger, A L Selvam, added, “The menu is dominated by North Indian food. It doesn’t match local tastes, so many people skip the meals altogether.” Despite repeated complaints, IRCTC has not issued a formal clarification, and feedback systems once in place during the train’s launch have reportedly been ignored.
As premium trains like Vande Bharat aim to offer improved services, unresolved catering issues threaten to tarnish the passenger experience. With rising fares and expectations, travellers are demanding transparency, better food quality, and the freedom to choose their meal preferences.
