Western Railway To Introduce 40 Authorised Vendors On Churchgate–Virar Local Trains, Crack Down On Illegal

Western Railway will introduce 40 authorised non-catering vendors on Churchgate–Virar local trains to curb illegal hawkers.

The initiative follows Central Railway's model and is expected to generate annual revenue of ₹25–27 lakh.

Authorised vendors will sell non-food items such as pens, magazines, and mobile accessories, and will receive official ID cards and licences.

Despite daily enforcement catching 20–25 unauthorised vendors, illegal hawking persists; the new system aims to enable stricter action.

Passengers will benefit from licensed vendors, reducing risks of dealing with unauthorised sellers, while WR earns non-fare revenue.