Chennai; Travellers on the Chennai-bound Vande Bharat Express trains have raised serious concerns after non-vegetarian breakfast options were quietly removed, reportedly without any prior announcement from Southern Railway or the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

The trains affected include those running from Chennai to Nagercoil, Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Tirunelveli. Passengers discovered the change only after booking, with the IRCTC app now showing a popup message stating, “Non-veg option is applicable for Lunch and Dinner only,” after personal details and food preferences are entered.

No formal notice has been issued, and Southern Railway’s General Manager R N Singh has not responded to media queries. Officials have attributed the issue to a “technical glitch” on the app, claiming that non-vegetarian options should still be available. However, passengers say their onboard experience tells a different story.

David Manohar, who travelled from Chennai to Nagercoil on Friday, said he received only vegetarian food despite selecting non-vegetarian during booking. “IRCTC responded to my complaint on X, saying the non-veg option is unavailable only for evening tea—but the post was later deleted,” he noted. “It’s my right to choose. IRCTC can’t restrict that without informing passengers.”

Frequent travellers have also raised concerns about declining food quality. N Muralidharan, a regular on the Chennai–Tirunelveli route, said, “They took feedback at launch, but now there’s no response. The dal is watery, rotis are too hard for the elderly, and rice portions are minimal.”

Another commuter, A L Selvam, added that the menu is heavily North Indian, alienating many Southern passengers. “Most people don’t eat the food at all. It just doesn’t suit our taste,” he said.

As of now, IRCTC has not issued any clarification on the matter. Passengers continue to demand transparency and better food choices, especially since the meal cost is included in their fare.