No more non-veg options: This train will now serve only vegetarian meals 

NEW DELHI: One of the special features of Vande Bharat trains is that passengers can pre-order their preferred meals while booking their tickets. There is an option to select either vegetarian or non-vegetarian food — including chicken, fish, and eggs — at the time of ticket booking itself. However, non-vegetarian food will no longer be available on one particular Vande Bharat train in the country. The New Delhi – Katra Vande Bharat Express has removed non-vegetarian items from its menu.

Passengers refer to this train as a “Satvik Train.” This move comes in response to concerns raised by some travellers regarding the mixing of vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals, especially from the perspective of purity and religious beliefs. As a result, this train now offers only pure vegetarian food. It has also earned the distinction of being the first train in India to serve exclusively vegetarian food.

Notably, passengers are not allowed to bring non-vegetarian food from home or outside sources either. This has sparked criticism, with some alleging that this is an infringement on food freedom and a reflection of a Sangh Parivar-driven agenda. The decision was formalised through an agreement between IRCTC and the 'Satvik Council of India,' officially declaring the train as fully vegetarian.

Officials have justified the move by pointing out that the train is primarily used by devotees travelling to the Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra, and most of them abstain from consuming meat during their pilgrimage.