Image Source: LinkedIn
Key Highlights
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), in a pioneering move, has partnered with the Akshaya Patra Foundation to offer standardized, nutritious, and hygienic cooked meals on trains for just Rs 80.
The initiative is set to launch just before Independence Day 2025, aiming to address widespread complaints about poor food quality and high prices on Indian Railways, and is expected to establish a new benchmark in travel catering standards.
The meals will be served on eco-friendly corn flour plates, marking a significant step toward sustainable travel practices while ensuring the food remains safe, affordable, and accessible.
Background: Why This Collaboration?
Food-related grievances have been a persistent challenge for Indian Railways, with about 27% of daily passenger complaints linked to substandard quality or overpriced meals.
IRCTC turned to Akshaya Patra—a non-profit renowned for serving millions of hot meals to school children daily under India’s Mid-Day Meal program—to apply its scale, efficiency, and hygiene protocols to the railway context.
The partnership aims to combine IRCTC’s vast passenger service network with Akshaya Patra’s proven expertise in large-scale meal preparation and distribution.
Meal Details and Service Model
Each Rs 80 meal plate will offer a balanced, traditional Indian combination:
200 grams plain rice
2 chapatis
150 grams dal (lentils)
100 grams mixed dry vegetables
10 grams pickle
Meals will initially be available both on select trains and at designated railway stations, with 100 meal plates prepared per day in the pilot phase and the scope to scale rapidly based on passenger demand.
Orders can be made in advance through IRCTC’s e-catering platforms, improving planning and minimizing wastage.
Akshaya Patra’s centralized kitchens will ensure strict hygiene standards and meal quality, delivered efficiently to trains and station platforms.
Eco-Friendly Focus and Sustainability
The meals will be served on plates made from corn flour—a biodegradable, compostable alternative to plastic—which aligns with Indian Railways’ growing push to reduce single-use plastics in its operations.
This eco-conscious step signals a move toward responsible mobility, encouraging other service areas within the Railways to explore sustainable options.
Operational, Economic, and Social Impact
This joint venture replaces earlier plans for new high-capacity base kitchens at major stations, as the IRCTC-Akshaya Patra partnership leverages existing infrastructure and logistical systems to keep costs low and quality high.
The Rs 80 meal price point is a significant reduction compared to many current options, democratizing access to hot, nutritious meals for the vast railway passenger base, including those from economically weaker sections.
The initiative may also have positive ripple effects on employment by expanding kitchen operations and logistics roles as the project scales.
Looking Ahead and Stakeholder Response
The gradual rollout of meals is expected to expand well beyond the pilot phase as both passenger uptake and operational learning progress through the latter part of 2025.
Railway officials and consumer groups alike have welcomed the move, with many hailing it as a nod to best practices in public health and food service for mass transit.
Akshaya Patra’s involvement also strengthens public trust in the quality, safety, and affordability of on-board food, and could set a precedent for similar interventions in other public service sectors.
Conclusion
The IRCTC and Akshaya Patra Foundation collaboration represents a transformative upgrade in the Indian railway dining experience. Priced at Rs 80, the meal is not only affordable and hygienic but also eco-friendly, addressing passenger needs, environmental objectives, and operational efficiency in a single stroke. As the program launches ahead of Independence Day 2025 and scales across the country, it could redefine what passengers expect from train journeys—making healthy, accessible, and sustainable food an integral part of travel.
Sources: Trak.in, Inshorts, The CSR Journal
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