Vijayawada: Railways apprehend unauthorised hawkers at railway stations

Vijayawada (NTR district) : The officials of the commercial department conducted surprise catering checks at the railway stations in Vijayawada and Rajahmundry on Thursday. Total 23 unauthorised hawkers were detected and a penalty of Rs 1.15 lakh was collected from them.

The objective of this catering check is to instill moral fear against excess charging, curtail unauthorised hawkers, unauthorised vending and sale of unauthorised food products and non-approved PAD (Proprietary Articles Items Display) at the stations.

The catering stalls, major and minor food units were intensely checked by the officials of the commercial department. As a part of the check, the quality of meals, and snacks supplied at all the stalls and major units were checked and found satisfactory by the officials. During the check at Vijayawada, 10 unauthorised hawkers selling tea and other food items were apprehended by the officials and a penalty of Rs 50,000 was realised.

At Rajahmundry, 13 unauthorised hawkers were apprehended and penalised. Two unauthorised hawkers at Rajahmundry were handed over to the RPF for non-payment of penalty. Vendors found excess charging were also penalized and counselled during the check. As a part of the drive, the officials also inspected the packaging materials used, hygiene conditions, expiry date of articles, availability of vending permits, and medical certificates of vendors at stalls. The availability of weighing scales and calibrated measuring glasses in all stalls was also checked.

Divisional Commercial Manager Dr Pradeep Chiluka, inspectors of Commercial and ticket checking staff conducted surprise checks at Vijayawada. At Rajahmundry, ACM V Ravi Varma and the team conducted the check.

Divisional Railway Manager Shivendra Mohan complimented the efforts of all the officials and staff and advised them to conduct surprise checks across the length and breadth of the division and pantry cars of the trains running across the division. He said that the main motto of the administration is to provide hygienic, good quality affordable food to the travelling public by adopting the best trade and hospitality industry practices.