Effortless Meal Booking
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has enhanced the travel experience by introducing its e-Pantry meal booking service. This digital
solution allows passengers on 25 selected Mail and Express trains to pre-order their meals, ensuring a convenient dining experience during their journey. Unlike trains where meals are often included, these specific Mail and Express routes require passengers to purchase their food, making the e-Pantry a valuable addition. The service has been met with significant enthusiasm, with IRCTC reporting a positive response since its phased introduction. This initiative aims to provide passengers with a reliable and accessible way to secure their meals, contributing to a more comfortable and enjoyable train travel.
Popularity and Demand
Since its initial rollout, the IRCTC e-Pantry service has seen remarkable adoption, with over 65,000 meals booked through the platform. This impressive figure highlights the demand for convenient food options during train travel. Specifically, breakfast and dinner orders each exceeded 17,000, while morning and evening tea saw over 8,000 orders. Lunch also garnered substantial interest, with more than 15,000 orders placed. The service experienced a peak in December 2025, with approximately 16,500 meal bookings. The YPR Sampark Kranti Express (Train numbers 12649–50/12629–30) was a standout, recording nearly 8,300 orders during this period, underscoring its popularity among travelers.
Step-by-Step Ordering
Booking a meal through the IRCTC e-Pantry is a straightforward process integrated directly into the IRCTC ticket booking portal. Passengers with confirmed, RAC, or partially confirmed tickets can easily pre-order standard meals or Rail Neer packaged water. To initiate an order, passengers can select the e-Pantry meal option while booking their ticket on the IRCTC website (www.irctc.co.in). Alternatively, meals can be selected from the confirmation page or by navigating to the 'My Transaction' section under 'Booked Food History.' Upon successful booking, a confirmation message along with a unique Meal Verification Code (MVC) is sent via SMS or email. This MVC is crucial for verifying delivery on the travel date; passengers simply present it to the pantry car staff who will deliver the pre-ordered meal directly to their seat. All payments are processed digitally, eliminating the need for cash transactions.
Ensuring Quality and Refunds
The IRCTC e-Pantry service is designed to offer transparency and accountability in meal delivery. Every order is managed through digital dashboards, ensuring that passengers receive precisely what they booked. This system also aids in compliance with tax regulations. IRCTC assures passengers that if a pre-ordered meal is not delivered as per the booking, they are eligible for a full refund. Details regarding cancellations and refunds are communicated to passengers via email or SMS, providing a clear and trustworthy process. This commitment to service delivery and customer satisfaction makes the e-Pantry option a reliable choice for travelers seeking convenient and well-managed meal services on their journeys.
Trains with Service
The IRCTC e-Pantry facility is currently operational on a curated list of 25 Mail and Express trains, offering travelers a wide range of options across various routes. These trains include the Vivek Express (22503-04), ASR-Kochuveli Exp (12483-84), and SwantraSenani Express (12561-62). Passengers traveling on the Swarnajavanti Express (12817-18), Chhattisgarh Express (18237-38), and DNR Express (12791-92) can also avail this service. Additionally, the TATA-SMVB Express (12889-90), AII-SDAH SF Express (12987-88), and Karnataka SamparkKrantiExp (12649-50/ 12629-30) are included. Other trains benefiting from this service are the Mangladweep Express (12617-18), Kalinga Utkal Express (18477-78), and Goa Vasco Express (12779-80). Travelers on the Pushpak Express (12533-34), Paschim Express (12925-26), and LTT-JYG Express (11061-62) can also order meals. The Netravati Express (16345-46), Grand Trunk Express (12615-16), and Darshan Express (12493-94) are also part of this network. Furthermore, the AP Expres (20805-06), Poorva Express (12303-04/12381-82), and Licchhvi Express (14005-06) provide this facility. Finally, passengers on the Azad Hind Express (12129-30), Malwa Express (12919-20), Ahmedabad Barauni Express (19483-84), and Purushottam Express (12801-02) can enjoy the convenience of pre-ordered meals.
