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The Indian Railways has decided to start offering non-vegetarian meals on the new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express that runs between Howrah and Guwahati. Earlier, this train served only vegetarian food, which led to complaints from many passengers and political discussions about food choices on board. This sleeper version of the Vande
Bharat, the first of its kind, was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17, 2026. It began its regular commercial operations from Kamakhya on January 22 and from Howrah the next day.
Inclusion of Non-Veg Meals
Soon after the launch, some travellers said that offering only vegetarian meals was not suitable for a long overnight train connecting West Bengal and Assam, where most people traditionally prefer meat and fish in their daily diet. Because of this, many asked the Railways to include non-vegetarian options on the menu.
Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar spoke with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who assured him that non-vegetarian food must be added to the train's catering services. Officials stated that this change is expected to happen within about a week.
Vande Bharat Food Menu to Showcase Regionality
Railway officials also noted that the food on the Vande Bharat Sleeper will reflect local tastes with Assamese dishes when the train departs from Kamakhya and Bengali food when it leaves Howrah. Both regional cuisines include many non-vegetarian items, including fish and meat, as these options are considered important for passenger satisfaction.
Non-vegetarian meals are already served on other premium trains such as the Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express, and regular Vande Bharat day trains, so the change on the sleeper service brings it in line with those offerings.
