On the taste track: QRs to verify snacks at Ludhiana railway station

Ludhiana: To ensure passengers receive safe, clean, and quality food, the Railways has taken strict action against unauthorised vending on trains. In this regard, the authorities have mandated ID cards with QR codes for all authorised catering vendors. There were certain complaints regarding unauthorised vendors selling food items not only at railway stations but also on trains.The officials claimed that the basic purpose is to serve quality food to the passengers and, in case illegal vendors serve bad quality food to the passengers, the image of the railways gets affected. Now, when authorised vendors wear proper ID cards, on the backside there will be a QR code. The passengers just need to scan that, and they will get each and every detail about the vendor and their legal agreement with the railway.One of the officials claimed that railway passengers will be able to instantly verify the identity and authenticity of a vendor by scanning a QR code on their mobile phone, thereby increasing transparency and trust. Scanning will provide the vendor's name, address, stall number, verification, and other essential details. Additionally, QR codes are being printed on food packages, providing information about the quality and hygiene of the food, he said, while adding that the system will effectively prevent unauthorised vendors and reduce food-related complaints.Senior divisional commercial manager of Ferozepur division Paramdeep Singh Saini said that this initiative is an important step towards ensuring safety, convenience, and better service to the passengers.