Will the Government Introduce Local Cuisine in Vande Bharat Trains?
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Synopsis
In an exciting move for travelers, the Indian Railways plans to introduce regional specialties in Vande Bharat trains, enhancing the culinary experience on board. This initiative aims to reflect the diverse cultures of India and improve passenger satisfaction. Find out more about these reforms and the impact on ticket booking security.
Key Takeaways
- Local cuisine will be introduced in Vande Bharat trains to enhance passenger experience.
- Expanded gradually across the railway network.
- Indian Railways is combating fraudulent ticket bookings effectively.
- Over 3.03 crore fake accounts deactivated.
- Aadhaar-based OTP verification improving ticket booking security.
New Delhi, Dec 13 (NationPress) The Railways Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, held discussions with officials on Saturday regarding the inclusion of regional cuisine in Vande Bharat trains. This initiative aims to roll out across the railway network in the future.
During a review meeting at Rail Bhawan, the minister emphasized that offering local dishes will greatly improve the passenger experience by providing food that mirrors the culture and flavors of the areas being traveled through. This service will gradually be extended to all trains in the coming years.
The Minister also highlighted the success of Indian Railways' crackdown on train ticket bookings made through fraudulent identities. The implementation of a strict system for user identity verification has led to the addition of approximately 5,000 new user IDs daily on the IRCTC website.
Before these recent reforms, the daily figure had peaked at nearly one lakh new user IDs. These measures have assisted Indian Railways in deactivating 3.03 crore fake accounts.
Additionally, 2.7 crore user IDs are either temporarily suspended or flagged for suspension due to suspicious activities.
Vaishnaw, accompanied by Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu, instructed officials to enhance the ticketing system to ensure all travelers can easily book tickets through a valid user ID.
This week, the minister conveyed to Parliament that to mitigate misuse and enhance fairness, Aadhaar-based OTP verification for online Tatkal ticket bookings is now functional in 322 trains. Consequently, the confirmed availability time for Tatkal tickets has surged by roughly 65 percent in these trains.
Aadhaar-based OTP for Tatkal bookings at reservation counters has been progressively introduced in 211 trains (as of December 4). This has resulted in an increase in confirmed Tatkal ticket availability time in approximately 95 percent of the 96 most popular trains, as stated by the minister.
Furthermore, Vaishnaw confirmed that comprehensive revalidation and verification of user accounts have been executed.
Since January 2025, about 3.02 crore suspicious user IDs have been deactivated. Anti-bot measures such as AKAMAI are employed to filter out non-genuine users and facilitate smooth booking for legitimate passengers.
Point of View
It's important to recognize the positive steps taken by the government to enhance the travel experience for passengers. The introduction of regional cuisine in Vande Bharat trains not only showcases India's rich culinary heritage but also appreciates local cultures. Furthermore, the efforts to combat fraudulent ticket bookings reflect a commitment to integrity and fairness in the railway system, benefiting genuine travelers.
NationPress
13/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new initiative being introduced in Vande Bharat trains?
The Railways Minister has announced plans to serve local cuisine in Vande Bharat trains to enhance the passenger experience.
How will this initiative affect the railway network?
The initiative aims to progressively roll out local cuisine across all trains in the future, reflecting regional cultures.
What measures are being taken against fake ticket bookings?
Indian Railways has implemented a stringent user identity verification system, leading to the deactivation of millions of fake accounts.
What is Aadhaar-based OTP verification?
Aadhaar-based OTP verification is a system introduced for online Tatkal ticket bookings to enhance security and fairness.
How many user IDs have been affected by the recent reforms?
About 3.02 crore suspicious user IDs have been deactivated since the reforms began.
