Fri Dec 06 12:57:42 UTC 2024: ## Tiruchi’s Unregulated Street Food Raises Hygiene Concerns; Planned Food Hub Awaits Funding
**Tiruchirappalli, December 6, 2024** – The proliferation of unregulated street food vendors in Tiruchirappalli city is raising serious hygiene concerns among residents. Vendors operating from makeshift stalls and pushcarts across the city offer a variety of food, from snacks to full meals, attracting a large customer base. However, the lack of regulation has led to worries about food contamination from vehicular traffic, dust, and proximity to open ditches. The disposal of significant amounts of waste further compounds the issue.
An activist highlighted the risk of contamination from pre-cooked food and on-site cooking in exposed locations. Furthermore, some businesses are encroaching on public spaces by setting up tables and chairs, creating further congestion.
The Tiruchirappalli Corporation has proposed a solution: a street food hub near the city’s sports complex. The project, estimated to cost ₹2 crore, is awaiting government approval for funding. A Corporation official stated that implementing stricter regulations on roadside eateries depends on the upcoming elections for the vending committee, which will facilitate the demarcation of vending and non-vending zones in consultation with relevant authorities.
A previous attempt to establish a street food hub at the Chathiram bus stand, part of a nationwide FSSAI initiative, was later moved to V.O.C. Road and eventually abandoned six years ago. The current proposal aims to address the hygiene concerns and provide a regulated environment for both vendors and consumers.
First Piper 