Railways to Mandate Smart Identity Cards for All Catering Vendors to Curb Unauthorised Vending
Reported by Amit Singh
New Delhi, 24th July 2025: In a move aimed at curbing unauthorised vending at railway stations and onboard trains, Indian Railways has directed that all vendors, helpers, and staff engaged by catering licensees must be issued standardised Identity Cards (IDs) by the Railway Administration or IRCTC. The initiative will ensure that only authorised personnel are allowed to sell catering items within the railway premises.
The Identity Cards will carry key details including the name of the vendor, Aadhaar number (in QR code format), medical fitness certificate validity, police verification status, unit of deployment, and the name of the licensee. The IDs will be signed by the Station Superintendent, Station Manager, or an authorised IRCTC official.
Railways has specified that vendors/helpers will be issued IDs only after following due procedures. The number of IDs issued will correspond to the approved staff strength for each catering unit, with a provision for reserve staff to cover for leaves or absences.
The order mandates that no vendor will be permitted to sell catering items at stations without prominently displaying the official Identity Card. If a vendor or helper discontinues service, the Identity Card must be surrendered, and a new card will be issued to a replacement staff member only upon return of the previous ID.
All licensee staff records will be maintained in a dedicated register at the respective station or train. Zonal Railways and IRCTC have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with these guidelines, which are expected to help passengers easily identify authorised vendors and eliminate unauthorised vending practices.
