Passengers travelling through stations operated by Central Railway will have to pay significantly higher prices for several popular snack items from June 1, following a revised catering rate structure approved by the railway administration. The price hike affects commonly purchased foods such as vada pav, samosa, pav, bhel items and ragda-based snacks sold at authorised station stalls across the network.
Under the revised pricing system, the cost of vada pav will increase from INR 13 to INR 20, while samosas will also now be sold for INR 20 instead of INR 12. The sharpest jump applies to a single pav, whose price will rise by nearly 67% from INR 3 to INR 5. Railway officials said the revision forms part of a periodic review aimed at aligning food prices with increasing operational and ingredient costs across catering services.
Other snack items will also become more expensive for commuters and long-distance passengers. Ragda pav and usal pav will increase from INR 20 to INR 25, while sukha bhel and chutney bhel will now cost INR 25 and INR 30 respectively. Officials stated that the pricing revision follows a similar exercise undertaken by Western Railway in 2025 and comes after earlier revisions carried out in 2021.
According to Chief Public Relations Officer Swapnil Nila, the updated prices are part of a broader effort to improve catering facilities at railway stations while expanding food choices for passengers. Railway authorities said the review considered changing market conditions, rising supply costs and operational expenses while attempting to maintain food quality and service consistency across station catering units.
Alongside the revised rates, Central Railway is also planning to introduce additional food options at station stalls. Proposed additions include slush drinks, cream-filled doughnuts, soup, dosa and noodles. Officials said serving quantities and menu structures for certain items are also being reviewed as part of the overall catering modernisation exercise. However, authorities clarified that prices of juices and soda products will remain unchanged for now.
The decision has drawn criticism from some representatives of railway catering associations, who argued that restrictions on certain locally sourced loose food items may indirectly favour branded packaged products available at stations. Critics warned that higher prices and changing sales policies could impact lower-income commuters who rely on affordable station food. Railway officials, however, maintained that the revised structure is necessary to ensure sustainable and reliable catering services across the railway network.
