Is water free on Rajdhani Express? IRCTC clarifies Rail Neer bottle policy for all passengers – Meal or no meal

After COVID-19, India(BHARAT)n Railways changed the way food is served on trains. Earlier, meals were automatically included in the ticket price of certain premium trains, but now passengers can decide for themselves. While booking tickets online, travellers can easily choose whether they want meals or not. This rule applies to three major premium trains i.e. the Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat Express, where food charges are normally part of the fare. If someone wants the onboard meal, the cost is added to their ticket. But if they do not want it, the meal amount is simply removed from the total fare. Even after saying ‘no’ while booking, passengers can still buy food later during the journey.

Is the Water Bottle Free in Rajdhani Express?

Many passengers remain confused about whether the complimentary one-litre Rail Neer bottle is still provided on Rajdhani and other premium trains, especially after meals were made optional. The question often arises: Does choosing the ‘No Meals’ option mean the free water bottle is no longer given?

To clarify, a senior IRCTC official told India(BHARAT)nExpress.com that the complimentary Rail Neer bottle is provided to all passengers, irrespective of their meal preference. In other words, even if a traveller opts out of onboard meals, they will still receive the free water bottle after boarding.

Has IRCTC removed the ‘No Food’ option?

Last month, several users claimed that the IRCTC app and website were forcing passengers to select a meal while booking tickets for premium trains such as the Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express, and Vande Bharat Express.

However, a senior railway official clarified to India(BHARAT)nExpress.com that these claims are incorrect. The ‘No Food’ option has not been removed. The official explained that the option is still available on the booking page, but its placement has been slightly modified. “Option to opt out is available on the same page,” the official confirmed.

How to Select the ‘No Food’ Option on IRCTC

If you want to skip onboard meals while booking a Rajdhani, Shatabdi, or Vande Bharat ticket, here’s how you can choose the ‘No Food’ option on the IRCTC website or app:

• Search for your train on the IRCTC website/app and select the Rajdhani Express (or any premium service) you wish to book.
• Proceed to the Passenger Details page.
• Scroll down to locate the Other Preferences or Catering Service section (label may vary by device).
• You will see two options: I want meals and I do not want meals / No Food
• Select ‘No Food’ to remove the catering charge from your final ticket fare.
• Check the fare breakup before making payment to ensure the catering fee has been excluded.
• Complete the booking process.

Important: In most cases, the “No Food” choice applies to the entire PNR, meaning all passengers under the same booking will have the same meal preference.