UP Govt Makes QR Code Stickers Mandatory For Eateries Along Kanwar Yatra Route
Scanning the sticker reveals the owner's name, registration number, address, and menu details and can also be used to give feedback
Ahead of the Kanwar Yatra kicking off on July 11, the Uttar Pradesh government has intensified its food safety and cleanliness campaign along the pilgrimage route by making it mandatory for all eateries to display QR-code-enabled stickers linked to the Food Safety CONNECT App. The move is aimed at ensuring hygiene, transparency, and accountability for the estimated four crore pilgrims expected to undertake the Yatra this year.
But what officials tout as a digital food safety reform, several traders quietly refer to as the 'official version of the nameplate diktat"—a reference to last year's controversial government order that had snowballed into a communal flashpoint.
QR Code Stickers To Display Owner's Details
The QR-code-based sticker—linked to the Food Safety Connect App—is now mandatory on all food establishments along the Kanwar Yatra route. Scanning the sticker reveals the owner's name, registration number, address, and menu details.
'This is not just a tech upgrade. It's a hygiene and transparency reform," said Rekha S Chauhan, Special Secretary and Additional Commissioner, FSDA.
'Our teams are placing stickers on all eateries—from high-end restaurants to roadside stalls. Citizens can also file complaints via the app if they find food quality lacking."
The FSDA has also directed shopkeepers to display rate lists and maintain high standards of cleanliness. Expired products and uncovered juices have been destroyed in several inspections, especially in Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow, Meerut, and Ayodhya.
While there has been no fresh directive this year about nameplates or religious identification, the digital sticker bearing the owner's name and registration has revived memories of July 2024, when the UP Police issued a controversial order for shop owners on the 240-km Kanwar route to display their names and phone numbers prominently.
The order, later extended state-wide by the government on July 9, 2024, was seen by many as an attempt to identify Muslim-owned shops operating under Hindu names. It triggered backlash after incidents were reported of religious profiling, including a shocking case where a self-proclaimed religious leader's team forced a restaurant staffer to partially disrobe to prove his religion.
'This time there's no written order on nameplates, but the QR code makes everything visible. You scan it, and you know who the owner is," said a hotelier in western UP. 'That's why many of us are calling it the new version of the 'nameplate diktat'—just digitised."
Focus on Hygiene, Not Identity
Officials have maintained that the Food Safety Connect App is part of a wider initiative to regulate food safety during monsoon and mass gatherings.
Vijay Pratap Singh, Assistant Commissioner (Food) in Lucknow, said: 'On July 2, our teams inspected fruit and vegetable sellers across Indira Nagar, Kursi Road, and other areas. We placed stickers, checked licenses, and destroyed over 45 kg of rotten produce. Food sellers have been warned against selling uncovered or poor-quality items."
The campaign will continue throughout July under the state's vector-borne disease control initiative.
To ensure smooth movement, safety, and better coordination during the Kanwar Yatra, top officials from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttarakhand convened for a high-level meeting at the Commissioner's Office in Meerut earlier this week. The inter-state coordination meeting, attended by UP DGP Rajeev Krishna, Chief Secretary Manoj Singh, and senior officers from the other three states, finalised a detailed action plan for crowd management, law and order, and pilgrim convenience.
As part of the decisions taken, all liquor shops along the Kanwar route will be covered with curtains during the Yatra. Though they will remain operational, their visibility will be restricted to avoid provocation. Surveillance through drones will be carried out continuously, and traffic police will implement a revised traffic flow plan from the night of July 10, under which one lane will be exclusively dedicated to Kanwariyas and another for light vehicles. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed inside city limits during the peak period of the Yatra. Additionally, every 15 kilometers, an IPS-level officer will be deployed to monitor the situation and ensure immediate response to any disturbances. A special WhatsApp-based coordination group has also been created with officers from all four states to facilitate real-time communication, updates, and troubleshooting. The measures reflect the scale of the Yatra, which is expected to draw more than 4 crore participants this year.
While the state has taken a more systemic and administrative approach this year, fringe elements haven't stayed quiet. On June 28, Swami Yashveer Maharaj and his team entered a dhaba on suspicion that it was owned by a Muslim but being operated under a Hindu name. They reportedly demanded Aadhaar verification and publicly humiliated the staff when they refused.
Though the state hasn't endorsed such actions, traders say the atmosphere remains tense, especially when shop names are scrutinised informally.
Feedback Linked via QR Codes
In cities like Lucknow, QR stickers are also being used to collect real-time food feedback. This allows FSDA officials to identify problem spots and take action immediately.
'We're not just regulating. We're creating a participatory system," said Rekha Chauhan. She said that clean food, verified kitchens, and accessible complaint mechanisms are the goals behind the move.
Chief Secretary's Directive: No Compromise on Quality
UP Chief Secretary Manoj Singh reiterated that no compromises will be made on the quality of food served. 'FSSAI officials will inspect every kitchen. From DJ volume to canal water levels, every detail is being tracked. Our WhatsApp-based coordination group across four states is fully active."
He added that only pure vegetarian food should be served along the Kanwar route, and PWD, electricity, and irrigation departments have been told to fix past lapses to prevent mishaps.
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Kanwar yatra liquor shops uttar pradesh Yogi Adityanath
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July 10, 2025, 14:10 IST
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