Eastern Railway Inspects Food Stalls at Key Stations in West Bengal

Kolkata, August 20: Officials from Eastern Railway conducted surprise inspections of licensed food stalls at major stations under their jurisdiction. The inspections at Howrah, Sealdah, and Malda Town stations aimed to ensure adherence to food quality and cleanliness standards.

Uday Shankar Jha, the Principal Chief Commercial Manager of Eastern Railway, led a comprehensive inspection alongside Rahul Ranjan, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Howrah Division. They focused on food preparation standards, cleanliness, and compliance with vendor regulations.

Kartik Singh, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Malda Division, participated in the process at Malda Town Station. He reviewed food stalls and cleanliness arrangements to ensure passenger safety and secure catering services.

At Sealdah, Chief Commercial Manager/Freight Marketing Pawan Kumar and Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Sunil Kumar Mahala conducted a detailed audit of catering units and sanitation methods.

These inspections were carried out under the directives of General Manager Geetika Pandey to guarantee that passengers receive safe and hygienic food.

A senior official noted that Howrah and Sealdah serve as both starting and ending stations for several important long-distance and suburban trains, making regular inspections essential for maintaining standards. Malda Town also serves as a key station where many significant trains pass, and passengers frequently disembark to purchase food. Surprise inspections will keep vendors alert.

In addition to packaged food, some stalls sell unpackaged snacks. During the inspections, officials checked whether these items were stored properly to prevent spoilage and also examined for pests. They verified the manufacturing and expiry dates on food packets.

The official emphasized the necessity of safe and hygienic food for passengers, stating, “We must ensure that travelers do not fall ill during their journey.” Regular campaigns against unauthorized food vendors on trains are also conducted. Passengers are urged not to purchase food from unauthorized vendors as it may pose safety risks.

Eastern Railway confirmed that such initiatives will continue to ensure passengers receive high-quality, clean food.