Eastern Railway (ER) officials conducted surprise inspections of licensed food stalls at Howrah, Sealdah, and Malda Town stations on 20 August, checking hygiene standards, vendor compliance, and food safety practices across three of its busiest passenger hubs. The drive was ordered by Gitika Pandey, General Manager, Eastern Railway, to ensure travellers have access to safe and hygienic food during their journeys.

Key Inspections Conducted

At Howrah, Uday Shankar Jha, Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM), ER, led the inspection alongside Rahul Ranjan, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr DCM), Howrah Division. Their audit covered food preparation standards, cleanliness of stall premises, and overall vendor compliance.

The Malda Town station inspection was overseen by Kartik Singh, Sr DCM, Malda Division, who reviewed food stalls and sanitation arrangements with a focus on passenger well-being and safe catering services.

At Sealdah, Pawan Kumar, Chief Commercial Manager/Freight Marketing (CCM/FM), and Sunil Kumar Mahala, Sr DCM, conducted a detailed audit of catering units and hygiene practices at the station.

What Officials Checked

Inspectors examined both packaged and unpackaged food items sold at stalls. For packaged goods, officials verified manufacturing and expiry dates. For unpackaged savouries — a common offering at railway stations — they checked storage conditions to prevent spoilage and looked for evidence of pest presence.

A senior official noted that Howrah and Sealdah serve as originating and terminating points for several long-distance and suburban trains, making routine inspections critical. Malda Town, similarly, is a key originating and terminating station where passengers frequently alight to buy food, making unannounced checks particularly effective in keeping vendors compliant.

What the Railway Said

'Safe and hygienic food is a must for passengers. We have to ensure people do not fall ill while travelling. Regular drives are also carried out against unauthorised food vendors on trains. We urge passengers not to purchase food from unauthorised vendors as it may be unsafe,' a senior official said.

ER's Chief Public Relations Officer, Shibram Majhi, added: 'ER remains dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and catering quality across all stations to ensure an exemplary travel experience.'

Broader Context

The inspections come as the government continues to emphasise food safety and hygiene across public transport infrastructure. Eastern Railway said such drives will be conducted on a continuing basis to guarantee that passengers receive good-quality, hygienic food at all stations under its jurisdiction. The exercise also signals a push against unauthorised vendors operating on trains, which officials say poses a risk to passenger health.