What’s inside:
This article discusses a recent change in the IRCTC ticket booking system that has frustrated many passengers.
In early October 2025, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) updated its interface for booking train tickets. One notable change is that the ‘No Food’ option has been moved from a visible spot on the booking page to a less obvious place under “Other Preferences” or “Catering Service Option.”
This update mainly affects passengers traveling on premium trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, and Vande Bharat Express, where catering charges are usually included in the ticket price. Many travelers now feel that this change makes it hard for them to avoid paying for meals they do not want.
Passengers booking tickets in a hurry may miss the ‘No Food’ option entirely and think it has been removed. As a result, they end up paying extra catering charges that can range between Rs 100 and Rs 245, depending on the meal type and class of travel.
Previously, the ‘No Food’ option was clearly visible alongside choices like Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian meals. Now, it requires navigating through multiple dropdowns, making it easy to overlook. The mobile app currently does not show this option, forcing users to pay for meals they might not need.
Passengers are urged to check the “Other Preferences” or “Catering Service Option” dropdown carefully when booking online to avoid unexpected charges. The demand is growing for IRCTC to bring back the visibility of the ‘No Food’ option, as many feel it should be an easy choice during the booking process.
Summary:
- The ‘No Food’ option has been moved in the IRCTC booking interface.
- This change affects travelers on premium trains.
- Passengers may unknowingly incur catering charges.
- The option is less visible and not available on the mobile app.
- Travelers are advised to check the dropdown menus carefully.