Bhopal railway station witnessed a crackdown on illegal vendors as part of an ongoing effort to ensure passengers have access to clean and hygienic food while travelling by train. On 7 January, a team conducted inspections and caught 19 unauthorised food vendors selling products without permission.
The Bhopal railway division stated that regular checking campaigns are conducted at stations to provide passengers with quality food items. A team comprising the Assistant Commercial Manager, Catering Inspector, Health Inspector, and Commercial Supervisor carried out surprise inspections on platforms one, two, and three at Bhopal station. The team identified and took action against 19 vendors selling food without proper authorisation within the station premises.
During the inspection, samples of food were also collected from station stalls and the food plaza for quality testing. These samples have been sent to designated laboratories for further analysis. Additionally, the inspection covered aspects such as cleanliness, food quality, compliance with prescribed standards, and validity of licenses.
Senior DCM Saurabh Kataria emphasised that there will be no compromise on passenger health and safety. He added that operations against unauthorised vending and violations of standards will continue on a regular basis. In a related development, 15 railway employees were honoured by Divisional Railway Manager Pankaj Tyagi with certificates and cash awards for demonstrating vigilance and alertness in preventing potential untoward incidents during duty.
Senior Commercial Manager Saurabh Kataria further stated that passenger safety remains the highest priority, and ongoing training along with resource support is being provided to railway staff to uphold these standards.