Nagpur: With the onset of the summer season and the resultant surge in passenger traffic, Central Railway’s Nagpur Division has intensified its efforts to curb the menace of unauthorized vending both on-board trains and at railway stations.

Recognizing the potential health hazards and revenue loss associated with such activities, the division has launched a sustained drive to ensure passenger safety and maintain catering standards.

In the past fortnight alone, a total of 122 unauthorized vendors have been prosecuted by the Commercial Department across various sections.

In addition, the inspecting teams have confiscated and destroyed unhygienic and spurious food and beverages including unapproved buttermilk packets, non-Rail Neer packaged drinking water, and contaminated “chana” being sold by these unauthorized vendors. Such products pose serious health risks to passengers and undermine the quality of services provided by authorized vendors.

The intensive drive is being spearheaded by a dedicated team of commercial managers, commercial inspectors, and catering inspectors.

In the last week, 19 cases of unauthorized vending were prosecuted on vulnerable trains and sections such as 12791/12792 Secunderabad–Danapur Express, 12295/12296 Sanghamitra Express, and 12860/12859 on the Nagpur–Ballarshah, Nagpur–Sewagram, Nagpur–Itarsi, and Nagpur–Badnera routes. Furthermore, six cases each were booked at Betul and Sewagram railway stations during this period.

It is pertinent to mention that the persistent and targeted action over the past two months has significantly curbed unauthorized vending activities. Central Railway remains committed to passenger safety, hygiene, and the protection of its revenue streams. The drive will continue in the coming weeks with zero tolerance towards unauthorized and unhygienic vending.