Mumbai, August 20: Amid reports of action taken by the Maharashtra FDA against food stalls at railway stations, Western Railway has clarified the situation. Vinay Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Western Railway, stated that news circulating on social media about the FDA closing 22 railway food stalls is misleading. The action was not initiated by the FDA but was conducted under Western Railway’s internal inspection mechanism.
Abhishek explained that Western Railway has long maintained a systematic and robust mechanism for monitoring catering stalls. There are approximately 297 catering stalls within Mumbai’s suburban network, along with a significant number of food stalls at various stations in non-suburban areas. Regular inspections are conducted at these stalls. In July alone, over 1,500 inspections of catering stalls were carried out, including those by senior officials and supervisors.
He noted that if any stall is found lacking in cleanliness, food quality, or other established standards during inspections, appropriate action is taken. This can range from imposing fines to temporarily closing the stall. In recent weeks, Western Railway has temporarily closed 21 suburban catering stalls due to deficiencies identified during internal inspections. Some of these stalls have since reopened after rectifying the issues.
Abhishek mentioned that different procedures are followed to monitor the various food products sold at railway stalls. During inspections of packaged food products, factors such as manufacturing dates, expiry dates, brand status, and approved brands are checked. Regular sampling of unpackaged food items is also conducted. In July, over 1,000 food samples were taken from various catering stalls, with 98-99% of products meeting established standards. Where deficiencies were found, actions were taken against the respective stall or vendor.
He added that monitoring extends beyond food and beverages. The health and hygiene of the staff working at food stalls are also assessed. Medical examinations are conducted to ensure that employees do not have any infectious diseases or health issues that could compromise passenger safety. Employees are only permitted to work at stalls after passing the required medical checks.
Abhishek highlighted that several stations under Western Railway have received certification based on standards set by FSSAI. To obtain such certification, catering facilities at the stations must meet high standards of food safety and hygiene. Western Railway is also leveraging technology in its catering monitoring system. Machines are used to check the quality of oil used at food stalls, while TDS machines are employed to assess water quality. The railway continuously updates its monitoring system to keep pace with changing times. Data related to inspections is stored, and records of monitoring each stall are maintained. This data is analyzed to determine further actions.
The CPRO emphasized that passenger complaints are taken seriously. If a passenger raises concerns about food quality, cleanliness, or other issues, an investigation is conducted. Actions are also taken based on deficiencies identified during internal inspections. In the current financial year, from April to July, Western Railway has imposed fines exceeding ₹1.3 million based on various deficiencies and complaints. Ensuring safe, clean, and quality food and beverages for passengers is a priority, and actions will continue wherever violations of established standards are found.
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