Central Railway has prohibited the sale of tea, coffee and cooked food at grocery kiosks across its divisions, while allowing a standardised range of packaged groceries, snacks, personal care products and household essentials at railway stations.
The list has been issued under the railway’s Non-Fare Revenue initiative, through which contracts have been awarded for grocery kiosks intended to provide passengers with access to daily-use products during their journeys. The move was introduced as part of the Special Cleanliness Campaign 60 and is aimed at creating uniform vending rules, improving passenger convenience and preventing unauthorised sales on railway premises.
Permitted grocery items include rice, wheat, pulses, flour, edible oils, sugar, salt, spices and dry fruits. Kiosks may also sell packaged drinking water from railway-approved brands, juices, energy drinks and soft drinks. Packaged snacks such as biscuits, popcorn and chips are included, along with instant noodles, ready-to-eat products, sauces, jams and pickles.
Dairy and bakery products are also permitted. Operators can sell ready-to-cook frozen products, including parathas, cutlets and nuggets, provided they are stored in medium-sized deep freezers. Ice cream is included in the approved list as well.
The permitted non-food products cover personal care and hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, detergent, tissues, napkins and toilet paper. Baby products, including diapers, baby food and wipes, as well as pet food, pet-care products, stationery and small utility items, may also be sold at the kiosks.
However, Central Railway has explicitly barred grocery kiosk operators from selling cooked food, tea and coffee. The restriction establishes a separate operating framework for these outlets and distinguishes them from other food and beverage facilities at stations.
Kiosk operators must comply with regulations issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and maintain cleanliness in and around their stalls. They are also required to place dustbins with garbage bags within a radius of approximately one metre of each kiosk.
Central Railway said the standardised list would help passengers obtain daily essentials, branded products and household goods at reasonable prices while maintaining hygiene at stations. The administration also linked the kiosk contracts to its effort to strengthen non-fare revenue through transparent commercial facilities and curb unauthorised vending.
The press release announcing the guidelines was issued by Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway. The new rules will apply to grocery kiosks operating under the contracts awarded through the Non-Fare Revenue initiative.
