9K cases booked for illegal hawking

South Central Railway has booked 9,069 cases of unauthorised hawking in various places all over the zone and realised up to ₹1.15 crore as penalty amount in the last one year during special drives.

These initiatives were taken up under the direction of Principal Chief Commercial Manager M.G. Sekharam, along with the ticket checking staff, Railway Protection Force personnel etc.

The special drives saw decoy checks on trains and stations, usage of secret cameras, checks by magisterial squads leading to prosecution of those indulging in unauthorised hawking, inspection of licensed catering units/stalls to check on the manpower and quality of food etc.

Catering licensees at major locations were educated on the need to ensure quality, hygiene, correct pricing and authorised vendors to sell the eatables and beverages to rail passengers.

Every vendor and employee of the catering licensees/contractors needs to wear uniform and carry a valid identity card issued by the department, an official spokesman of SCR nformed in a press release.

Main cause of deficiency in catering services has been identified as due to overcharging of food items, quality of raw material, inexperienced cooks, sale of unbranded and unapproved items, less quantity of food etc.

The SCR has also decided to rationalise the number of vendors permitted for different types of catering units at different category of stations for effective monitoring.

Distribution of menu cards by pantry contractors to passengers in the trains is also a mandatory condition to be complied, the release added.

These checks are being taken up under the specific direction of SCR General Manager Vinod Kumar Yadav, the release added.