The Vande Bharat Express, India's first semi-high speed train, is currently operational on three routes in central India: Bhopal to Jabalpur, Indore to Bhopal, and Nagpur to Bilaspur. The train offers two classes: AC Chair Car and Executive Class, with varying fares. All Vande Bharat trains require prior reservation and don't...
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have a general coach option. The Bhopal-Jablpur route, launched in October 2023, covers 569 km in 4 hours and operates on all days except Tuesday. The Indore-Bhopal route, launched in June 2023, covers 218 km in 3 hours and runs daily. The Nagpur-Bilaspur route, covering 5 hours and 20 minutes, passes through Raipur, Durg, and Gondia.

Passengers are complaining about the quality of food served on the Vande Bharat Express, reporting that it is often stale and spoiled. This, along with complaints about the behavior of staff, has resulted in declining passenger numbers on the train. The Vande Bharat Express, running between Rani Kamalapati, Jabalpur, and Rewa,...
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has also been facing speed limitations due to poor track conditions, signal failures, and waterlogged tracks in the Jabalpur Rail Division. The train's top speed has not exceeded 100 km/h, despite being designed for speeds of 130-160 km/h. Passengers are also reporting that the catering services provided by private contractors are serving stale and spoiled food, likely due to a focus on maximizing commission. Consequently, the Vande Bharat Express, despite being a premium service, is experiencing low occupancy rates, with bookings below 100%, while regular trains on the same route have booking rates exceeding 140-150%. In June and July, the average occupancy rate for the CC coach was 90%, leaving 10% of seats vacant, while the EC coach had a 70% occupancy rate, leaving 30% seats empty. This is a significant decline from the initial months of operation, when the train had booking rates between 110% and 130%, with a waiting list. The most common complaints received by the railway department concern the food quality, staff behavior, catering services, coach cleanliness, electricity supply, and safety.

A passenger travelling on the Vande Bharat Express train from Rani Kamalapati to Jabalpur Junction found a dead cockroach in the food served by IRCTC. He shared pictures of the incident on social media, prompting a response from the railway authorities. IRCTC apologized for the bad experience and stated that the...
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catering contractor had been heavily fined. The railway service also acknowledged the complaint and assured further monitoring. This incident is not the first of its kind, as a similar incident was reported last year involving a passenger travelling on the Vande Bharat Express from Bhopal to Gwalior.

Indian Railways is facing scrutiny once again regarding the quality of food served on its trains. This time, a complaint has been received regarding a dead cockroach found in a meal served on the Vande Bharat Express train. The incident occurred on the Rani Kamalapati (Habibganj) - Rewa Vande Bharat Express...
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(Train number 20173), departing from Jabalpur (JBP) on February 12, 2024. IRCTC has apologized for the incident.

A passenger traveling on the Vande Bharat Express from Rani Kamlapati to Jabalpur found a cockroach in his meal. A video of the incident went viral, leading to an investigation by the Jabalpur Railway Division and the IRCTC. The passenger, Dr. Shubhendu Keshari, reported the incident to the train staff after...
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finding the dead cockroach in his food, which was served during the night. Despite complaints, the catering contractor was only fined ₹45,000 by the railway authorities, with ₹25,000 coming from the Jabalpur Railway Division and ₹20,000 from the IRCTC. The contract was not canceled. The catering company responsible, Express Food from Itarsi, was supplying food on the train.