Bhubaneswar railway station has been certified as “Eat Right Station” for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers.
Bhubaneswar is the sixth station of Indian Railways to get the certificate after Chandigarh, Anand Vihar Terminal, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai Central and Vadodara Railway Stations, East Coast Railway (ECR) officials said on Thursday.
The “Eat Right Station” certification was part of the Eat Right India movement. It is an effort made by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to transform the food system in India with an aim to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians.
“The Eat Right India adopts regulatory, capacity building, collaborative and empowerment approaches in ensuring that the food available is suitable for people as well as for planet,” a media release issued by the ECR said.
The certificate was awarded after conclusion of FSSAI empanelled third party audit agency with ratings from 1 to 5. Bhubaneswar station achieved 4-star rating. “The 4-star rating indicates exemplary efforts made by the railway authorities at Bhubaneswar station in ensuring that safe and hygienic food is available to railway passengers. All the catering stalls at Bhubaneswar station are provided with food licence certificate and the vendors have medical fitness certificate,” the release stated.
State food commissioner Yamini Sarangi on Thursday presented the certificate to divisional railway manager (Khurda road division) Rinkesh Roy.
Speaking on the occasion, Roy said: “The award makes us more responsible to maintain this standard of hygienic and quality food for our valued passengers in future at Bhubaneswar station. We will make efforts to include Puri, Cuttack and other important stations of the Khurda division in the “Eat Right Station” category.”
Dr P.K. Mohapatra, director of food safety, B.G.S. Rao, chief medical superintendent (Khurda road division), Sri Amitesh Anand, senior divisional commercial manager (khurda road division) were present on the occasion.
