Each Rail Neer plant has a capacity of 1 lakh bottles a day as IRCTC expands packaged drinking water availability across key railway stations and trains

Key Highlights

• Indian Railways currently operates 19 Rail Neer packaged drinking water plants across the country.
• Each plant has a production capacity of 1 lakh bottles per day.
• Rail Neer is being supplied across important trains and railway stations to meet passenger demand.
• IRCTC is responsible for setting up Rail Neer plants at identified locations based on demand and operational requirements.
• A Rail Neer plant under the PPP model costs approximately ₹10 crore, excluding land.
• Plants are currently operational across 16 states/regions, covering major railway markets from Delhi and Maharashtra to Assam, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.

Rail Neer Network Supports Railway Catering and Passenger Services

New Delhi: Indian Railways is strengthening the availability of packaged drinking water for passengers through its network of 19 operational Rail Neer plants across the country.

The Rail Neer network is currently meeting the demand for packaged drinking water on important trains and at railway stations. The initiative is being implemented through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which has been tasked with establishing plants at locations based on demand and operational requirements.

Each Rail Neer plant has a production capacity of 1 lakh bottles per day, highlighting the scale of packaged drinking water requirements across India’s railway network.

₹10 Crore Investment for a 1-Lakh-Bottle Capacity Plant

According to the Railway Ministry, the tentative cost of establishing a Rail Neer plant under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model) is around ₹10 crore for a capacity of 1 lakh bottles per day.

The estimated cost covers the construction of a pre-engineered building shed and installation of plant and machinery, while the cost of land is excluded.

19 Rail Neer Plants Across India

The operational Rail Neer plants are located at:

The information was provided by Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

What It Means for Hospitality, Food & Beverage and Travel

The Rail Neer network has a direct connection with the food and beverage side of railway travel, where drinking water is an essential component of passenger services.

Supports railway F&B operations

Reliable packaged drinking water availability is important for railway catering, onboard food services and station-based F&B outlets. A stronger supply network can help ensure that water remains available alongside meals, snacks and other passenger services.

Improves the passenger experience

For travellers undertaking long-distance journeys, access to packaged drinking water is a basic but important part of the overall travel experience. Consistent availability at stations and on important trains can contribute to passenger convenience.

Opportunity for railway hospitality services

The expansion of Rail Neer infrastructure also reflects the growing scale of India’s railway passenger-services ecosystem, where catering, packaged food, beverages and other travel-related services operate alongside transportation.

Supports destination connectivity

For tourism, the initiative adds another layer to passenger infrastructure as India’s railway network connects major cities and leisure destinations. Reliable basic services such as drinking water become increasingly important as passenger volumes and inter-city tourism grow.

The Bigger Picture

With 19 operational plants and a production capacity of 1 lakh bottles per plant per day, the Rail Neer network represents a significant packaged drinking water infrastructure supporting India’s railway passenger ecosystem.

For the hospitality and travel industry, the development is particularly relevant to railway catering, onboard F&B, station retail and passenger experience, reinforcing the importance of supporting services alongside India’s expanding rail travel network.