Vijayawada railway station bags five-star 'Eat Right Station' certification

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], January 17 (ANI): In yet another milestone by the Division, Vijayawada Railway Station bagged the prestigious Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)' 'Eat Right Station' Certification for implementing the best hygienic and safe food practices in service to esteemed passengers.
With this feat, Vijayawada has become the second Station in the Vijayawada Division and fifth in SCR Zone after Annavaram, Guntur, Nadikudi & Hyderabad (Nampally) Station to bag the 'Eat Right Station' Certification.
Vijayawada station secured 85 per cent and above marks in the certification process and achieved a five-star exemplary standard 'Eat Right Station' Certification.
The 'Eat Right Station' certification is granted by FSSAI to Railway Stations for adhering to standard food storage and hygiene practices, and for providing high-quality, nutritious food to rail passengers.
This certification is a testament to the Division's commitment and resolve to ensure serve its esteemed passengers with utmost safe and hygienic standards.
For achieving this certification, the Railway Officials took the herculean task of nominating Vijayawada Railway Station, being the main nerve centre of Rail operations and with more than one lakh passenger foot fall on daily basis.
After due nomination process, the catering vendors, stall owners and food handlers were trained under the FOSTAC (Food Safety & Training Certification) programme as per FSSAI standards.
Post the training programme, intense monitoring and evaluation of all the catering stalls was conducted by the commercial and food safety staff periodically.
M. Sowribala, Chief Medical Superintendent, Railway Hospital, Vijayawada and team held several counseling sessions with the FSSAI team, vendors and contractors on regular basis.
All the parameters like food safety, hygiene standards, personal hygiene of vendors, protective gear, expiry dates of food products, temperature control, garbage disposal, segregation of wet and dry waste were taken into account and monitored continuously.
Initially a pre-audit was conducted and finally a FSSAI empaneled third party audit was conducted. After complete monitoring and evaluation for six months and in conformity with benchmark standards and hygienic practices, Vijayawada Railway Station achieved its 'Eat Right Station' Certification with validity till January 2027
Narendra A. Patil, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada Division congratulated M. Sowribala, CMS, Vavilapalli Rambabu, Sr.DCM; Md. Ali Khan, DCM, M. Sailaja, Station Director, Vijayawada,. K. Anil Kumar, DO, Food Safety, SCR, Rahamathulla, FSO, Catering and Commercial team of Vijayawada Division for their exemplary efforts in bagging the prestigious FSSAI 'Eat Right Station' Certification.
The DRM said that 'Eat Right India' movement is a large-scale effort by FSSAI to transform the country's food system to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians.
Narendra A. Patil also emphasized on planning and achieving more such certifications for other stations over the Division in future. (ANI)