New Delhi: In a move aimed at cracking down on illegal vending in trains and at railway stations, the Ministry of Railways has directed all its zones to implement a standardised format for identification cards for authorised vendors with immediate effect.
According to senior railway commercial officials, unauthorised vending has become a growing concern, with such vendors often selling adulterated food products that pose serious health risks to passengers.
"The issue of unauthorised vending in trains and stations has been examined by the Railway Board's office, and the following is advised for implementation with immediate effect to curb unauthorised vending," the Ministry said in a circular dated July 17, addressed to all railway zones.
The directive mandates that all authorised vendors, helpers, and staff employed by licensee firms providing services in trains or at stations must be issued identity cards in a standardised format. These ID cards are to be issued by the respective Railway Administration or the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in the name of the individual staff members.
The standard ID card format includes key details such as the vendor’s name, Aadhaar number, medical fitness certificate and its validity, deployment unit, date of police verification and its validity, and the name of the licensee firm employing the vendor.
The circular specifies that identity cards must be signed either by the station superintendent or station manager of the concerned station, or by an authorised official of the IRCTC. Furthermore, cards must only be issued after completion of the due verification process.
To ensure uninterrupted services, zones have been advised to issue ID cards not only to the vendors and helpers permitted for a specific unit, but also to a designated number of reserve vendors or helpers. These reserves can step in during staff absences or emergencies.
The Ministry emphasised that no vendor will be permitted to sell food or catering items within station premises without prominently displaying the authorised identity card.
In cases where a vendor or helper resigns or is replaced, the outgoing staff must surrender the identity card to the licensee. The licensee is then required to request a new ID card from the Railway Administration or IRCTC for the replacement staff, ensuring that no duplicate or unauthorised IDs are in circulation.
Additionally, the Ministry has instructed that records of all licensee staff, vendors, and helpers must be maintained in a defined register at the respective station or onboard train where they are deployed.
The move is part of the Railways’ broader effort to strengthen passenger safety and hygiene by ensuring that only authorised personnel handle catering and related services across the network.
With PTI inputs