Indian Railways and IRCTC have changed the rules for food preparation in trains. Due to a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, the railways have allowed cooking inside pantry cars of long-distance trains. This process was stopped several years ago for safety reasons but is now being restarted with a focus on electricity.
📰: Marudhar Express: Smoke spotted coming from wheel in Barabanki, train halted at Saidkhanpur station।
Why is cooking restarting in trains?
The decision comes because of constraints in the LPG supply which affected the catering services. To ensure that passengers do not face food shortages, Indian Railways permitted the use of non-flame electrical appliances. This means food will now be prepared using induction stoves and microwaves instead of traditional gas burners.
What are the new guidelines for catering units?
IRCTC has issued specific directions for both station-based and onboard catering to handle the LPG crisis:
- Station food plazas and Jan Aahar centres must switch to induction and microwave cooking.
- Base kitchens are told to adopt electric modes immediately to avoid disruptions.
- Catering units must maintain a higher stock of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) and packed food.
- Pantry cars in long-distance trains can use electrical appliances for cooking.
Key dates of the LPG advisory
| Date | Action Taken |
|---|---|
| 10 March 2026 | IRCTC asked station units to switch to electric modes and stock RTE food. |
| 11 March 2026 | Base kitchens and food plazas ordered to start induction cooking. |
| 23 March 2026 | Railways allowed cooking in pantry cars using non-flame electrical appliances. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will gas stoves be used for cooking in trains now?
No, the new permission is specifically for non-flame electrical appliances like induction stoves and microwaves to avoid LPG dependency.
Does this rule apply only to moving trains?
No, the advisory covers both static catering units at stations (like Jan Aahar and food plazas) and pantry cars in long-distance trains.