A roadside eatery near Perundurai in Erode district faces stringent legal action after Tamil Nadu Transport Minister Vijay Tamizhan Parthiban found food-handling and sanitation deficiencies during a surprise inspection on the Salem-Coimbatore National Highway on Wednesday night.
The minister arrived at the eatery at around 9pm after repeated complaints from bus passengers about poor-quality food and unhygienic toilet facilities. During the inspection, he spoke to passengers about the food being served, prices charged by the establishment and the condition of its toilets.
Passengers reported grievances related to food quality, overpricing and sanitation, according to the report. The minister then inspected the kitchen and sales areas of the eatery, where he found food items meant for public consumption being stored and handled in unhygienic conditions.
The inspection placed three routine but critical services for intercity travellers under scrutiny: the safety of food, adherence to prescribed prices and access to usable sanitation facilities. Roadside eateries along bus routes serve passengers who may have limited alternatives during long journeys, making compliance with operating norms an important part of the travel experience.
After observing what he described as serious deficiencies in the quality of food on sale, Parthiban warned the eatery’s management against compromising passenger health and safety. He contacted senior officials in the transport department and directed them to initiate stringent legal action against the establishment without delay for violating prescribed norms.
“The health and safety of passengers cannot be compromised under any circumstances. Eateries operating along bus routes must strictly adhere to food quality, pricing and sanitation norms. Any violation will invite immediate and stringent action,” the minister said.
The report did not specify the sections of law that may be invoked, the amount of any penalty, or whether the eatery’s operations were suspended following the inspection. It also did not provide details of any follow-up inspection or action by food-safety authorities. The next step identified by the minister was action by senior transport department officials against the establishment.
