4 days ago
Food safety inspections conducted at 15 railway stations across Kerala
T'puram: In a crackdown to ensure food safety and hygiene on trains, Railway Police conducted surprise inspections across 15 major railway stations in the state on Thursday. This was part of an operation titled 'Operation Pothichoru' where particular focus was given on food parcel centres, refreshment stalls and base kitchens, including those supplying meals to premium trains like Vande Bharat.
The operation was launched in response to a spate of complaints lodged by passengers through the 'Rail Madad' and 'Rail Alert' apps regarding the poor quality of food served on board, especially on high-end services. Complaints ranged from unacceptable foreign materials found in food to reports of passengers falling ill after consuming meals.
The stations covered in the operation included Thiruvananthapuram Central, Parassala, Kollam, Punalur, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam North, Ernakulam South, Thrissur, Shoranur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur and Kasaragod.
SP (Railways) Arul R B Krishna said the inspections were part of a joint initiative with railway authorities aimed at restoring public trust in food purchased from trains. "This is about ensuring passenger well-being and health. The operation was intended to instil public confidence in train catering services, and we plan to carry out more such surprise inspections going forward," he said. Krishna also appealed to the public to continue reporting such concerns.
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Special focus was placed on IRCTC-operated kitchens and catering units functioning near key railway establishments in the state. In many locations, the inspections were carried out jointly with health department officials of the respective local bodies. In places where health officials were unavailable, Railway Police carried out the checks independently for visible violations, hygiene lapses, or illegalities that could endanger public health.
Inspecting officers checked for cleanliness in cooking areas, hygienic food handling practices, and the safe packaging of food items. Where necessary, directions were issued on improving sanitary conditions and adhering to food safety protocols.
