Ludhiana railway station food business goes cold, as safety rules tied to overhaul ban heating sources.

Ludhiana: A multi-crore-rupee infrastructure overhaul at this major industrial city's railway station has produced an unintended casualty this winter: the hot meal.Strict new safety protocols tied to the station's massive redevelopment project have banned all heating sources for platform food vendors, forcing commuters to choose between "biting cold" weather and stone-cold snacks. The prohibition covers everything from modern electric stoves to traditional coal-fired angeethis, leaving the station's famous chole-bhature and tea stalls struggling to maintain their livelihoods.Safety Over SustenanceThe directive, issued by Railway headquarters, cites fire hazards and electrical wiring limitations within the active construction zones. While the station undergoes its high-tech transformation, the infrastructure required to support safe cooking or food warming has been decommissioned."The orders regarding the ban on coal, electric, or gas cookers come directly from headquarters," said deputy station superintendent Prem Mittal. "Local administration has no authority to waive these safety requirements."Economic Impact on VendorsThe Ludhiana Vendors Co-operative Society reports that the ban is devastating the station's 48 registered members, who operate 24 authorized food carts and trays. Many of these vendors have seen a sharp decline in daily revenue as customers reject cold food. "People buy food and then immediately complain it is cold," said Naveen Sharma, a chole-bhature vendor on the busy Platform No. 1. "In this biting cold, customers naturally expect a warm meal. Without it, our sales are dipping every day."Praveen Kumar, president of the cooperative, noted that while LPG was banned four years ago, small coal heaters were permitted as recently as last winter. "We understand the construction risks, but we need a temporary solution. This is peak winter," he said.Commuter FrustrationThe policy has also drawn the ire of regular travelers. Hardeep Singh, a daily commuter, expressed surprise after being served cold chole-kulche. "It is shocking that at a major station like this, there is no system to keep food warm during winter," Singh said. "If they cannot allow cooking, they must provide an alternative facility. People cannot be expected to eat cold meals in these temperatures."As the "orange alert" cold wave continues to grip Punjab, vendors say they are now praying for the rapid completion of the station's upgrade so they can return to serving the hot meals that have long been a staple of Indian rail travel.