Food vendors rue ban on cylinders at railway station

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 17

The local food vendors at the city railway station raised hue and cry against the order of the railway boards for prohibiting them from using gas cylinders. Reportedly, the officers of the Ferozepur Railway board have banned the use of gas cylinders at all the railway stations of the division with immediate effect. Officials said, that if any vendor or stall operator was caught using gas cylinders, strict action will be taken against him.

After receiving control message from the commercial department, the station superintendent RK Bahal, and Commercial Inspector Ajay Sidhu immediately removed all the gas cylinders from the station, in compliance with the orders.

It is noteworthy that from the the safety point of view of the passengers, the higher officials of the railways have taken this decision. Besides Ferozepur division, the railway stations falling under other railway divisions have also been banned from running the gas cylinders. Ajay Sidhu said, these orders were passed, keeping in view the safety and security of passengers as well as the station premises.

Meanwhile, the vendors said, this has resulted in the reduction of their daily wages. Raj who is running his stall for the past 12 years said, now they wouldn’t be able to serve hot tea to the passengers, as due to the availability of gas stove and cylinders, the commuters used to ask for hot tea and snacks. Sometimes, people also used to come and ask for hot milk for their children which was not possible now due to the shut down of gas cylinders.

Therefore, the vendors will now have to use electric microwaves and induction cookers. Although some of them have already started using hot containers to store hot tea.

Similar decision was also taken few years back and the use of gas cylinders was barred on the stations, but later this decision was withdrawn and vendors started using domestic and commercial gas cylinders. Now once again, the commercial department has taken a strict stand and has completely banned the use of gas cylinders.