Indian Railways is set to significantly enhance passenger experience by introducing regional and local cuisine in Vande Bharat trains, a move that celebrates India’s rich culinary diversity while making rail journeys more memorable. Alongside this passenger-centric initiative, the Railways has also reported major success in cracking down on fake IRCTC user accounts, improving transparency and fairness in ticket booking.
Local Flavours to Enrich Vande Bharat Journeys
Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, chaired a high-level review meeting at Rail Bhawan to assess passenger services and digital reforms. Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu, was also present during the meeting.
During the review, Shri Vaishnaw directed railway officials to begin serving local cuisine reflective of the regions through which Vande Bharat trains operate. The initiative aims to offer passengers authentic regional flavours, strengthening cultural connection and elevating the overall travel experience.
Officials informed the Minister that the plan will initially be rolled out on Vande Bharat services and later expanded progressively across other train categories. The move aligns with the government’s broader focus on promoting local culture, boosting regional food producers, and enhancing passenger satisfaction.
Crackdown on Fake IRCTC Accounts Shows Results
In a major digital reform, Indian Railways has intensified its action against fake and suspicious IRCTC user accounts used for ticket booking. The Minister noted that stricter identity verification mechanisms and advanced detection systems are yielding tangible results.
According to official data, the number of new IRCTC user IDs created daily has sharply declined to around 5,000. This is a significant drop from nearly one lakh new IDs being registered every day prior to the implementation of the new checks.
Over 3 Crore Fake Accounts Deactivated
As part of the ongoing crackdown, Indian Railways has already deactivated approximately 3.03 crore fake IRCTC accounts. In addition, around 2.70 crore user IDs have either been temporarily suspended or identified for suspension due to suspicious booking patterns and misuse.
Officials explained that many of these accounts were being used for bulk bookings, automated ticketing, or unfair practices that deprived genuine passengers of confirmed tickets, especially during peak travel seasons.
Focus on Fair and Transparent Ticket Booking
Both the Union Minister and the Minister of State stressed that the ultimate objective of these reforms is to ensure a fair, transparent, and user-friendly ticket booking system. The Railways has directed officials to further strengthen safeguards so that only genuine users are able to book tickets through verified IRCTC accounts.
The measures are expected to significantly reduce the role of touts and automated bots while improving access to tickets for ordinary passengers.
Passenger-Centric Reforms Continue
The twin initiatives introducing local cuisine and tightening digital security reflect Indian Railways’ broader push towards modernization and passenger-centric governance. While the culinary upgrade enhances comfort and cultural engagement, the digital cleanup ensures fairness and efficiency in ticketing.
With these steps, Indian Railways continues its journey towards becoming a modern, transparent, and traveler-friendly transport system that balances tradition with technology.
