Indian Railway Food Prices: IRCTC Menu, Meal Rates and How to Report Overcharging
Updated: 3 September 2026Passengers buying food on Indian Railways should check the applicable menu and tariff, confirm whether the sale is from an onboard mobile catering unit or a static station unit, and insist on a proper bill or invoice. If a vendor demands more than the applicable authorised price, passengers can use the official RailMadad grievance system or helpline 139.
Current Indian Railways standard catering rates
Railway catering prices depend on the service and outlet. The Railway Board menu distinguishes between mobile units serving passengers on Mail/Express trains and static units at stations. The following standard-item rates are inclusive of applicable taxes as specified in the official tariff material.
| Item | Mobile unit / onboard | Static unit |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetarian breakfast | ₹40 | ₹35 |
| Non-vegetarian breakfast | ₹50 | ₹45 |
| Standard vegetarian meal | ₹80 | ₹75* |
| Standard non-veg meal with egg curry | ₹90 | ₹80 |
| Standard non-veg meal with chicken curry | ₹130 | ₹120 |
*The Railway Board menu PDF currently displayed on the Indian Railways website lists ₹75 for the static-unit vegetarian standard meal, while a separate 11 January 2024 tariff circular available on a zonal Railway website lists ₹70 for that static-unit item. Because official documents can be revised or republished, passengers should check the latest displayed tariff at the point of sale and the current official menu before purchasing.
| Item | Mobile unit / onboard | Static unit |
|---|---|---|
| Veg biryani, 350 g | ₹80 | ₹70 |
| Egg biryani, 350 g | ₹90 | ₹80 |
| Chicken biryani, 350 g | ₹110 | ₹100 |
| Snack meal with regional cuisine/flavour, 350 g | ₹50 | ₹50 |
Premium trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto have separate service-wise catering tariffs, and food may in some cases be included in the passenger fare. A-la-carte, regional, branded and eCatering items may also have different approved prices. Therefore, a price from one category should not automatically be applied to another.
How to check the correct food price before paying
- Identify whether you are buying from an onboard/mobile catering unit, a pantry service, a static station unit or an IRCTC eCatering vendor.
- Check the displayed menu and tariff for the item, quantity and service category.
- For controlled standard meals, compare the price with the current Indian Railways menu and tariff.
- For IRCTC eCatering, use the price shown against the selected outlet and item after entering your PNR.
- Ask for a bill or invoice and keep the payment record, especially if you believe you have been overcharged.
How to report railway catering overcharging
RailMadad is the official Indian Railways grievance-redressal platform for train and station complaints. A catering complaint can be lodged online or through the app. Indian Railways also provides the integrated helpline 139; RailMadad states that complaints may also be sent by SMS in the prescribed format.
Information that can help resolve the complaint
Keep the train number, journey date, coach and berth, station if relevant, vendor or catering-unit details, food item, quantity, amount demanded and amount actually paid. Attach a bill, invoice, payment screenshot or photograph of the displayed menu where available. Avoid confrontation; use the official grievance channel and preserve the complaint reference for tracking.
Order food through official IRCTC eCatering
IRCTC eCatering allows passengers to enter a PNR, view participating outlets at supported stations, select food and schedule delivery to the train. Depending on the order, payment may be made online or through payment on delivery. IRCTC's terms state that eCatering charges shown for the selected meal include applicable GST, government taxes and packing charges, and the service provides a bill or invoice with the pre-ordered meal.
Historical passenger account that prompted this page
The following is retained as a historical consumer-awareness account. Its old menu prices and numerical estimates must not be treated as current railway tariffs.
The original article credited the account to Shivendra K. Sinha, IAS (Retd.) and stated that it had been received through WhatsApp from Mr. Ashok Sharma, a retired government official. The traveller described a journey from Visakhapatnam to Howrah on the Yesvantpur-Howrah Express, during which a pantry-car waiter allegedly demanded a higher amount for a vegetarian meal than the rate the passenger believed was officially prescribed at that time.
According to the account, the passenger searched for the then-applicable railway menu, questioned the waiter, requested the rate card and later approached the pantry in-charge. The passenger said a complaint was entered in the complaint register and urged other travellers to verify authorised rates and insist on a bill.
The lasting consumer-awareness point remains useful: check the applicable current tariff, ask for a bill and use official Railway complaint channels if the amount demanded appears excessive. The old article's meal prices and large extrapolated revenue calculation have been removed because they are outdated and should not be presented as present-day facts.