The menu of food catering service on trains has been changed with the New Year. While vegetarian passengers will be served Idli-Saambar along with the regional dish Litti-Chokha, diabetic patients will be provided boiled vegetables and oats with milk.
In view of the International Millet Year 2023, the Railways have also included eight recipes of millet in the trains. In this change, special arrangements have been made for baby food for small children.
As per the January 12 order of the Railway Board, changes in the menu of all Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, and Vande Bharat trains will be implemented from January 26. After 2019, the Railways changed the catering menu of trains.
Board officials say railway passengers will now be served food with tadka of their regionally-popular dishes. Apart from this, passengers will be able to taste food according to the Teej festival and season. In regional cuisine, passengers will get food like Litti-Chokha, Idli-Saambar, Dosa, Bada Pav, Pav Bhaji, Bhelpuri, Palampuri, Khichdi, Jhalmudi, Veg-Non-Veg Momos, Spring Roll, etc.
On the other hand, the passengers from the Jain community will be given cooked food without onion and garlic. Diabetic travelers will get boiled vegetables, oats with milk, cornflakes with milk, white portion omelet, etc. Apart from this, sugar-free tea and coffee will be arranged. Railway has included Ragi Ladoo, Ragi Kachodi, Ragi Idli, Ragi Dosa, Ragi Paratha, Ragi Upma, etc. in the menu of coarse cereals.
Veg and non-veg food will be served on trays of different colours. The tray will have menu items and a rate list so that vendors cannot overcharge passengers. The day, date, time, and name of the contractor will be mentioned on each packet. Apart from this, there will be a toll-free number. Through this, passengers will be able to register their complaints.
The sale of branded and packaged food will be allowed in Mail-Express trains. This will be convenient for those passengers who did not avail of the catering service while booking the ticket. Be aware that taking catering in premium trains is optional.