The Navratri special thalis will consist of satvik diet such as sabudana, sendha namak, kuttu ka atta, and certain vegetables. “This year IRCTC, in a bid to make train travel during this time of the year less of a hassle, is offering 'vrat ka khana' as a part of its e-catering menu,” the IRCTC statement said. However, the special meals will be available through select restaurants and at some select stations of the Indian Railways network. As on date, it will be available at Nagpur, Ambala, Jaipur, Itarsi, Jhansi, Nasik, Ratlam, Daund, Mathura, Nizamuddin and Lucknow, the IRCTC statement added further.
It is also to be kept in mind that the orders can be placed at least two hours before scheduled journey time with a valid PNR and passengers may opt to pre-pay or pay on delivery, based on convenience.
Indian Railways, over the recent past, has been working aggressively towards enhancing the quality of the food served in trains and at railway stations. IRCTC has also tied up with several hyperlocal food delivery platforms to serve customers with quality food and has also build stalls on railway stations to also sell food on platforms. In order to protect travellers of being overcharged by vendors for food items on trains, IRCTC has rolled out its ‘Menu on Rails’ app and website, which lists the MRP (Maximum Retail Price) of all food items.