Centre Approves Food Street Hubs in Shegaon and Shirdi to Boost Hygiene and Pilgrim Facilities

Buldhana: In a major boost to food safety and pilgrim amenities at prominent religious destinations, the Central Government has approved the development of Food Street Hubs in Shegaon (Vidarbha) and Shirdi (Marathwada region) under its national food safety initiative.The project, being implemented jointly by the Union Health Ministry and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), will be rolled out across 100 locations nationwide. As part of this initiative, both Shegaon and Shirdi will receive funding of Rs1 crore each.The Food Street Hubs aim to provide clean, hygienic, and nutritious food to devotees while also ensuring that food handling and preparation meet standardized safety norms. The initiative is particularly focused on curbing foodborne illnesses and improving the overall quality of street food services in high-footfall areas.Shegaon, widely known as a major spiritual centre associated with Sant Gajanan Maharaj, will see the development of a modern and well-regulated food street designed to cater to thousands of daily visitors. A similar facility will be established in Shirdi, one of the country's most visited pilgrimage sites associated with Sai Baba.Officials said that the project will not only enhance food safety standards but also generate employment opportunities for local vendors and small-scale food business operators by integrating them into a structured and monitored ecosystem.Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the proposal. He stated that the initiative would significantly improve the experience of lakhs of devotees visiting both religious destinations while ensuring access to safe and nutritious food.