The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s ‘Eat Right Station’ initiative is making significant strides in ensuring access to safe and healthy food to millions of people travelling in trains throughout the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare claimed on Thursday.

Till date, 150 railway stations across the country have been certified as Eat Right Stations, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of the Eat Right India movement, ensuring safe, hygienic, and nutritious food options for millions of passengers who traverse the country’s vast railway network.

The Eat Right Station certification process involves rigorous audits of food vendors, training of food handlers, adherence to strict hygiene and sanitation protocols and efforts to raise awareness among individuals to make informed food choices. Stations that meet these stringent criteria are awarded the Eat Right Station certification.

Some of the prominent stations that have been certified are the ones in New Delhi, Varanasi, Kolkata, Ujjain, Ayodhya Cantt, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Kozhikode, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Vadodra, Mysuru City, Bhopal, Igatpuri, Delhi’s Anand Vihar terminal and Chennai’s Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M G Ramachandran Central Railway Station, among many others from different states.

This initiative not only benefits passengers, but also empowers food vendors at railway stations. By adhering to food safety and hygiene standards, they gain credibility and attract more customers, ultimately boosting their livelihoods, the health ministry said.

Six pioneering metro stations across the country have also joined the effort and have been accredited as Eat Right Stations. Among these are the stations at Noida Sector 51, Esplanade (Kolkata), IIT Kanpur, Botanical Garden (Noida) and Noida Electronic City Metro Station.

The ministry said the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) remains committed to further expanding the programme. The aim is to encompass all major railway and metro stations, ensuring every passenger, regardless of their destination, can enjoy safe and healthy food options throughout their journey. This nationwide effort promises to contribute significantly to a healthier India.