The Southern Railway is planning to invite bids soon to open multi-purpose stalls which would be allowed to sell OTC drugs in stations. Authorities have identified 42 stations to open such multi-purpose stalls in the division that has 160 stations. 

Senior railway sources told DT Next that the stalls would be functional in over 40 stations before the year ends. Apart from this, the division has also planned another 79 stalls (catering) in A1, A, B and C type stations. In a couple of months, tenders will be invited for 40 stations and then be followed by another 39 stations.  Opening pharmacies and selling scheduled drugs at railway stations is, however, not in the plans. The catering units of A1, A, B and C stations be similar to the ones in Chennai Central and Egmore. 

Similarly, another 130 units would be opened in the division in category D, E and F stations, which would be wayside stations recording less footfall, claimed sources. “The idea is to ensure that every station has at least one stall or catering unit selling food to passengers. The nature of the stall would be decided based on the footfall at the station,” an official said. 

Southern Railways, which opened a refurbished Jan Aadhaar facility at Central recently, received proposals to open similar counters in Tambaram Railway Terminal during a Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee meeting.