Passengers can save money by opting out of catering charges during IRCTC ticket booking
Indian Railways and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation give travellers the flexibility to skip mandatory meal costs when traveling on premium services. Passengers often look for ways to save money, and knowing how to bypass these fees makes train journeys much more budget-friendly.
- Travellers can easily decline meals on premium trains like Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto Express.
- Selecting the option reduces the total ticket fare instantly during the online booking process.
- Savings can range from ₹150 to ₹350 depending on the class of travel and the distance.
- Onboard food purchases remain possible later, though a ₹50 surcharge applies for Vande Bharat orders.
How to Opt Out of Catering Charges on IRCTC
When booking tickets through the official IRCTC website or mobile application, passengers encounter the option to decline meals after completing the passenger details entry stage. By selecting the 'No Food' or 'I don't want Food/Beverages' option, the system automatically deducts the catering charges from the overall ticket fare. Senior railway officials have confirmed that this helpful feature remains fully available to all travellers.
Managing Food Choices After Booking
Once a passenger books a ticket with the 'No Food' selection, they cannot change their catering preference online. However, travellers still retain the freedom to purchase meals directly onboard the train. For Vande Bharat Express, an additional ₹50 surcharge per meal applies for such spontaneous onboard orders. For other premium trains, meal prices for those who did not pre-book have been adjusted since July 2022 to include service charges, while tea and coffee prices remain uniform for everyone.
Alternatively, passengers who initially skip meals can still pre-book food through the dedicated IRCTC tourism website at irctctourism.com/BookFood. This option remains open until the first charting of the train, which typically happens four hours before departure. Pre-booked food can be cancelled before charting for a full refund of catering charges, excluding GST. No refunds are granted after the charting process is complete. Furthermore, the Ministry continues to emphasize strict quality, safety, and hygiene standards across its entire catering network to ensure a pleasant passenger experience.