The Sattvik Council of India in association with Bureau Veritas (global audit partner) has provided ‘vegetarian certification’ to ‘Shri Ramayan Yatra’ yesterday at Safdarjung railway station, New Delhi as part of its efforts to encourage vegetarian friendly railway services.
‘Shri Ramayan Yatra’ themed pilgrimage tour Dekho Apna Desh Deluxe AC Tourist train has become the first vegetarian friendly train.
The statement mentioned that the vegetarian-friendly railway services are particularly dedicated to observant vegetarians and vegans travelling to holy destinations in the Indian Railways.
The train, which is set to cover several religious places throughout the country, has obtained the vegetarian certification from the Sattvik Council of India, a non-profit organization that has been established to promote the certification of vegetarian food.
The statement added – “IRCTC base kitchens, executive lounges and platforms will also be vegetarian certified to ensure vegetarian-friendly travel.”
‘Shri Ramayan Yatra’ rail tour will cover destinations such as Ayodhya, Nandigram, Janakpur, Sitamarhi and Varanasi. The duration of this tour will be 16 nights and 17 days and tourists can board this train at Delhi’s Safdarjung railway station.
IRCTC will promote “vegetarian-friendly travel” by getting a few trains “sattvik certified”, particularly those that run on routes connecting religious sites.
In the release, it also mentioned that IRCTC has an “understanding” with it and has decided to seek “certification” for some of the trains that go to pilgrimage destinations like the Vande Bharat express to Katra, the end stop for Vaishno Devi temple. Further, it also mentioned that this formula is likely to be replicated in around 18 trains.