Are You Paying More for Water Bottles at Railway Stations? Here’s What IRCTC Says.

For many frequent travelers, buying packaged drinking water at the railway station is a routine necessity. Concerns often arise regarding the pricing of these bottles. However, official communication from the Ministry of Railways indicates a positive change: prices for packaged drinking water have been reduced .

Here is what the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) stated in its Commercial Circular No. 18 of 2025, dated September 20, 2025.

The Official Price Revision

The Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), with the concurrence of the F(C) Directorate, officially decided to revise the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for packaged drinking water sold on Indian Railways. This revision applied starting September 22, 2025.

Crucially, the change reflected a reduction in price for both the popular ‘Rail Neer’ brand and other packaged drinking water brands shortlisted by IRCTC/Railways.

1. Rail Neer Price Changes

The official MRP for the ‘Rail Neer’ packaged drinking water bottles underwent the following revision:

• 1 Litre Capacity: The price was revised from ₹15/- to ₹14/- per bottle.
• 500 ml Capacity: The price was revised from ₹10/- to ₹9/- per bottle.

2. Other Shortlisted Brands

If you prefer or purchase a packaged drinking water bottle of another brand that has been shortlisted by IRCTC/Railways and is sold in railway premises or trains, these prices were also revised to match the new rates.

• 1 Litre Capacity: The MRP was revised from ₹15/- to ₹14/- per bottle.
• 500 ml Capacity: The MRP was revised from ₹10/- to ₹9/- per bottle.

In Summary: You Should Be Paying Less

Contrary to the fear that prices might be rising, the official instructions issued in September 2025 confirm a ₹1 reduction in the Maximum Retail Price across the board for both 1-liter and 500 ml packaged drinking water bottles.

This policy was formalized through a directive issued by the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) and was sent to all General Managers of Indian Railways and the Chairman and Managing Director of IRCTC, New Delhi.

Necessary action was to be taken to implement these revised rates starting September 22, 2025. If you find vendors charging above these revised Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) of ₹14/- for a 1-liter bottle or ₹9/- for a 500 ml bottle, ensure you report the violation immediately.