Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 7: In a bid to promote the rich culinary heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Railways, in collaboration with the IRCTC, has introduced authentic vegetarian cuisine from the region on board the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express from today.
As part of the initiative, passengers will now be served traditional breakfast and lunch prepared with local spices and cooking methods. The menu includes delicacies such as Kahwa, fresh bakery products, Rajma, Kashmiri Pulao, Babru, Ambal, Jammu Paratha, Paneer Chaman, Dum Aloo and fresh apples. Some of the standout dishes are Ambal Kaddu, a sweet-and-sour Dogra-style pumpkin curry, and Babru, a stuffed puri relished in hilly areas.
Passengers arriving at Katra station on September 7 were given a warm welcome and introduced to the new culinary experience. The response was described as encouraging, with most travellers opting for the local menu and praising the quality and taste.
Speaking about the launch, IRCTC Chairman Harjot Singh Sandhu said the initiative aimed to provide passengers with “an authentic and memorable travel experience in the Kashmir Valley, allowing them to savour the flavours even before reaching their destination.”
Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Division, said that special emphasis was being placed on hygiene and packaging. “This model will have state-of-the-art kitchens, while packaging will shift from aluminium foil to airline-style Teflon-coated casseroles and eco-friendly coir trays. Professional supervisors will ensure high standards through staff training and monitoring,” he noted.
The regional menu will run alongside IRCTC’s standard vegetarian options such as upma, poha and cutlets, ensuring wider choice for passengers.
The Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, connecting Srinagar with the rest of the country’s railway network. While commercial services began the next day with IRCTC’s standard menu, Sunday marked the launch of the special scheme to promote regional cuisine across premier trains, beginning with trains numbers 26401, 26402, 26403 and 26404.
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