Surprise Catering Checks Conducted at Vijayawada Railway Station Penalty of ₹85,000 imposed on Unauthorised Vendors

In a late-night operation on 11th May 2025, officials from the Commercial Department of Vijayawada Division, South Central Railway carried out surprise catering checks across all platforms of Vijayawada Railway Station. The inspection was conducted under the supervision of Shri Rambabu Vavilapalli, IRTS, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr. DCM), Vijayawada Division.

The primary objective of the surprise check was to ensure that passengers are provided with hygienic, high-quality, and reasonably priced food. The drive also aimed to curb unauthorised vending and overcharging practices.

During the checks, officials scrutinised all catering stalls, verifying vendor credentials, permits, and ID cards. A total of 17 unauthorised vendors were identified for operating without valid ID cards or with expired permits. A penalty amounting to ₹85,000 was imposed and realized on the spot.

All vendors and licensees were counselled to:

• Avoid overcharging passengers.
• Deploy staff only with valid permits.
• Operate strictly within allocated spaces to prevent platform congestion, especially during peak hours.

Shri Rambabu Vavilapalli, Sr. DCM, Vijayawada Division commended the efforts of the Commercial Department and station staff for their proactive role in ensuring compliance. He stressed the importance of conducting such surprise inspections regularly to eliminate unauthorised hawking and vending across the station premises.

The Sr. DCM also emphasised that the Commercial Department remains committed to implementing preventive measures to enhance the overall passenger experience by ensuring access to quality food throughout the division.

SCR BZA PR No.27
Date: 12.05.2025