New Delhi: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, has reported an enthusiastic response to its recently introduced e-Pantry meal booking facility on Mail and Express trains equipped with pantry cars. As the hospitality and tourism arm of Indian Railways, IRCTC continues to strengthen catering services while promoting rail-based domestic and inbound tourism.
The e-Pantry facility enables passengers to pre-book meals digitally on select Mail and Express trains where catering charges are not included in the ticket fare. Traditionally, passengers purchased meals onboard during their journey. The new system offers a convenient and cashless alternative, allowing travellers to secure their meals in advance.
Initially piloted on the Vivek Express (Train No. 22503-04), India’s longest-distance train, the service has now been expanded to 25 Mail and Express trains. Since its phased launch in April 2025, more than 65,000 meals have been booked through the IRCTC e-Pantry platform. Breakfast and dinner bookings have each exceeded 17,000 orders, while morning and evening tea services have recorded more than 8,000 bookings apiece. Lunch orders have also crossed 15,000 during this period.
December 2025 witnessed the highest monthly bookings, with 16,500 meals ordered. Train Nos. 12649-50 and 12629-30 (YPR Sampark Kranti Express) alone accounted for approximately 8,300 of these orders, reflecting strong passenger adoption.
Integrated into the IRCTC ticketing platform (www.irctc.co.in), the facility allows passengers holding confirmed, RAC, or partially confirmed tickets to pre-order standard meals and Rail Neer, which are delivered directly to their seats by pantry car staff.
Passengers can select the e-Pantry option either at the time of ticket booking or later via the “My Transaction” section under “Booked Food History”. Upon successful booking, a confirmation message along with a Meal Verification Code (MVC) is sent via SMS or email. On the day of travel, passengers present the MVC to the vendor to receive their pre-ordered meal at their seat.
Payments are processed online through digital modes, eliminating the need for cash transactions onboard. The MVC system ensures accurate delivery to the correct passenger, while all orders are monitored through digital dashboards to enhance transparency, accountability, and tax compliance. In cases of non-delivery, passengers are entitled to refunds, with cancellation and refund details communicated through SMS or email.
Through such technology-driven initiatives, IRCTC continues to redefine the passenger travel experience and further the objectives of the Government’s Digital India mission.
