Chicken curry added to Vande Bharat Sleeper food menu after ‘veg-only’ row on Kamakhya-Howrah route

Vande Bharat Sleeper

• Kamakhya-Howrah Vande Bharat train adds non-veg meal after passenger feedback
• Regional chicken curry added; passengers can choose veg or non-veg option
• IRCTC updates ticket system with new meal choices for passenger convenience

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In a swift response to passenger criticism and a burgeoning political row, Indian Railways has introduced a non-vegetarian meal option on the newly launched Kamakhya-Howrah Vande Bharat sleeper train. The move, confirmed by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday, sees the addition of a regional chicken curry to the previously vegetarian-only menu.

The premium train, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17 and commencing regular service on January 22, had faced complaints from a section of passengers over the lack of non-vegetarian fare. The issue quickly gained political traction in West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of "policing plates" and attempting to control food habits.

According to an order dated January 31 from the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the decision to revise the menu was based on passenger feedback received on January 29. The order stated the revision was finalised "to ensure uniformity in meal service, better passenger convenience and streamlined operational implementation across the route."

The new provision offers passengers a choice between a vegetarian paneer masala or a non-vegetarian chicken dish — described as 50-60 grams of boneless chicken in 70 grams of gravy — prepared in either Bengali or Assamese style. The rest of the meal spread, which includes jeera corn pulao, tehtar paratha, mixed dal, Assamese-style beans and rosogolla, remains unchanged.

Uday Shankar Jha, principal chief commercial manager of Eastern Railway, was cited by TOI as saying that the non-vegetarian fare had been available since Sunday.

While the Bengal BJP unit distanced itself from the initial menu controversy, stating that railways alone decides such matters, Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar intervened. He reportedly spoke with Minister Vaishnaw last week advocating for the inclusion of non-vegetarian food, citing the culinary preferences of people in Bengal.

The IRCTC has now requested the Railway Board to update the ticket booking system to clearly reflect the new meal preference option for passengers.

The political dimension was underscored by the TMC and other opposition parties in Bengal, who sustained criticism over the government's approach. The controversy highlighted the cultural significance of food in the region, as both Assamese and Bengali cuisines are known for their extensive use of fish and meat.