IRCTC Takes Action After Pune Railway Station Fire, Food Plaza Sealed, Rs 2 Lakh Fine Imposed
Pune, 22nd April 2026: The food plaza at Platform No. 1 of Pune Railway Station has been sealed and the vendor’s licence terminated following a fire incident earlier this year, with IRCTC imposing a fine of over ₹2 lakh, IRCTC officials said.
According to officials, the investigation report into the February 23 fire has been submitted to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) within a week of the incident. The fire, which broke out at the Om Sai Ram Enterprises food plaza, was reportedly caused due to poor maintenance of equipment.
Following the findings, IRCTC terminated the licence of the vendor operating the outlet and imposed financial penalties. The food plaza has since been sealed, and a fresh tender for the facility is expected to be issued soon.
Railway authorities stated that concerns related to passenger safety and protection of railway assets were raised in connection with the incident, prompting action against the operator.
The fire occurred at around 18:30 hrs on 23 February 2026, originating in the chimney during cooking operations and causing dense smoke at the station. The blaze was brought under control after firefighting teams responded, and no injuries were reported.
Officials confirmed that further steps regarding the operation of the food plaza will be taken after the new tendering process is completed.
