Vande Bharat Sleeper's First Ride: World-Class Train Faces Civic Sense Challenge

• The Howrah-Kamakhya Junction Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, inaugurated by PM Modi on January 17, began commercial ticket sales on January 20.
• Initial reviews highlight an air travel-like experience with uniformed pantry staff serving food via trolleys.
• Despite modern amenities, videos from the first journey showed tea cups and plastic waste scattered on the floor, raising concerns about civic sense.
• The snack box included savory mix, soft drink, cupcake, fried pastry, peanut brittle, cashew fudge, and ketchup.
• Lunch featured pulao, paratha, dal, potato-cauliflower fry, pickle, rosogolla, and sweet yogurt; dinner included matar paneer, rice, paratha, and mango pickle.

Why It Matters: Vande Bharat Sleeper offers a premium travel experience, but passenger civic sense remains a challenge.