Rail Neer: An Ultimate Need For Rail Passengers
Water is priceless, and we all understand its value in our life. Its importance even gets increased when its accessibility gets difficult. While travelling, it turns into passengers’ ultimate need. In that case, if we get out of the water, we often consume water that is not pure and safe to drink. That causes us illness and invites numerous health issues.
That’s why in 2003, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) launched bottled water with the brand name “Rail Neer” in Indian railways to provide clean and safe water to railway passengers. It is a necessary facility for the railways that carry millions of passengers daily.
Importance of “Drinking Water” Rail Neer in Train
It’s the fact that you can’t carry enough water for journeying by train. On long train routes, your packed water will get exhausted. And due to the limited availability of safe drinking water, you might be forced to drink less water on trains. That can even cause problem of dehydration.
In addition, if you consider stepping out of the train to a stoppage railway station to refill water bottles can also be risky; you might miss the train or board it in a rush. It might also happen that you don’t get drinking water at railway stations. Consuming water from unknown sources increases the risk of waterborne diseases, which can be severe and even life-threatening.
IRCTC Rail Neer makes drinkable water available at the railway station and trains easy. Rail passengers can easily buy these water bottles from IRCTC staff on pantry car trains and authorised railway station stalls.
Features of Popular Train Water “Rail Neer”
Rail Neer is an essential amenity for rail passengers, ensuring easy access to safe and clean drinking water on train journeys. Its unique features include:
Safety Measures- IRCTC Rail Neer is produced by maintaining the highest hygiene and quality standards. It undergoes a multi-stage filtration process, followed by ultraviolet (UV) treatment and ozonation to ensure it is free from contaminants or impurities.
Affordability – Railway’s mineral Rail Neer bottled water is reasonably priced, ensuring it is accessible to all passengers.
Variety – Rail Neer water bottles are available in different sizes that are convenient for passengers. Its different sizes include 500 ml, 1 L, 2 L etc.
Easy Availability – Rail Neer is available at India’s most major railway stations. It is also available on trains, with the Pantry cars. In addition, Rail Neer is also provided with e-catering services.
Where Rail Neer Gets Produced
To supply the railway’s mineral water across the nation’s railway stations and trains. IRCTC has established multiple plants to fill the water demand and supply gaps in Indian railways.
Major Indian Cities with Operational Rail Neer Plants of IRCTC
Delhi
In Nangloi, Delhi, IRCTC set up its first water plant in 2003, intending to supply safe drinking water to important trains from New Delhi and Nizammudin railway stations. The Plant produces 120000 bottles daily and has a solar evaporation pond.
Howrah
Established in 2020, the Howrah Rail Neer plant is located in Sankrail in Howrah, west Bengal. This Rail Neer plant aims to supply safe drinking water to trains and stations in West Bengal. The Howrah water plant can produce 1,00,000 bottles a day.
Chennai
IRCTC set up a third water plant in 2010 in Palur Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The water plant aims to supply mineral water to trains and stations in Tamilnadu and Karnataka. The water plant produces 180000 bottles/day.
Mumbai
The Maharashtra Rail Neer plant is near Mumbai in Ambarnath, Thane district. The purpose of this water plant is to fulfil the rail passengers’ needs in the trains and stations in the state of Maharashtra. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the busiest railway station of Maharashtra, gets drinking water from the Ambernath Rail Neer plant. The production capacity of the water plant is 2,00,000 bottles/day.
Patna
IRCTC set up its second Rail Neer plant in 2004. This is located in Danapur near Patna in Bihar. The purpose of this mineral water plant is to provide safe drinking water to trains and stations in the state of Bihar. The Rail Neer factory plant produces 102000 bottles/day.
Bilaspur
Bilaspur Junction railway station is one of the important railway stations in Chhattisgarh. The Bilaspur Indian railway water plant is established to fulfil the drinking water needs of Bilaspur station along with all trains and railways stations of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The water plant produces 70,000 bottles in a day.
Amethi
Located in Gauriganj, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, the Amethi water plant produces 72,000 bottles in a day. It was established in 2014 to supply mineral water in Uttar Pradesh. It is the fifth IRCTC Rail Neer water plant built in the PPP model.
Apart from these mentioned names, several other operational Rail Neer plants exist in different Indian cities, including Parassala, Sanand, Hapur, Mandideep, Nagpur, Jagiroad, Sankrail etc., to provide rail passengers pure water in train and railway stations. Rail Passengers can purchase Rail Neer on almost all the Pantry car trains and railway stations. Moreover, passengers can also buy it online while travelling by train.
How to Order Drinking Water in Train Online
In non-pantry cars, you might not get authorised Rail Neer on trains. In such cases, you might need to depend on local vendors for bottled water with zero guarantees of receiving purified water. For safety concerns, you can order your water bottle online through e-catering services.
To order water online in train, you can follow these few steps:
- Visit the RailMitra official website or install its app.
- Navigate to the “Food in Train” button.
- Enter your 10-digit PNR number or train details.
- A list of Restaurants en route railway stations will open.
- Click on Restaurant Menu and add water to your cart.
- Proceed with the payment methods and place water orders online while travelling.
With RailMitra, you can even order hot drinking water on train along with your breakfast, lunch or dinner order to satiate your travel hunger. RailMitra partnered with RailRestro food in train services to offer various dishes for rail passengers, including authentic Indian cuisines, Chinese food, regional delicacies, pure Jain food, beverages, summer chillers, and more on train.
What is Rail Neer Produced by Indian Railways?
Rail Neer is Indian railway’s mineral water produced by IRCTC. It is the most trusted drinking water for rail passengers.