Passengers on the Western Railway (WR) network will now find millet-based health snacks on station menus, but they also have to pay more for their regular eats. WR has revised food prices at stalls across its network, while also introducing 16 new items to the menu.
The new food items include both indulgent and healthy options, while the price revision is the first in four years.
Prices for about 14 types of items have gone up by 20 to 25 per cent. Certain items like vada, samosa, dhokla, sabudana vada, laddoo, sandwiches, usal, ragda, frankies, and patties will see a price hike. Certain food items being sold loose have been taken off the stalls.
We must also see a real jump in hygiene and service standards. The counters at the stalls must be cleaned regularly, and stall owners must have enough staff to keep the counters clean by wiping them down. The cloth/material used must be washed or changed. Those who serve at these stalls, too, must wear gloves when appropriate. Clean oil, which is not constantly used, fresh ingredients, and enough water for washing to ensure cleanliness are just as vital as ‘healthy’ food.
Sometimes, one has waste bins just outside these stalls, which are overflowing with commuters leaving a trail of food remnants and crushed drink tetrapacks and glasses. This dirt is compounded when the platform is wet.
While nutritious food is welcome, the Railways must ensure that it is not priced too high so that it is out of reach for the common man. We usually see healthy food prices are simply too high for most. We must also ensure that the new menu isn’t a mere fad, but real and truly healthy options. More power to the lifeline of Mumbai for transformation to current times, let the Railways look at the healthy eats in a holistic manner.