Nagpur, 26 Aug

(HS): The canteen operating in the premises of Nagpur’s India Gandhi Government

Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), which earlier was Mayo Hospital, serving

food to undergraduate and post-graduate students has been stopped operating by

the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The canteen was being operated without

a valid food licence and found many lapses in hygiene and food safety rules compliances.

Closure of Shri

Balaji Canteen popularly known as Doctors’ Canteen, raised questions about oversight

to food safety and hygiene in a prominent Government hospital.

According to

FDA, the canteen was preparing and selling tea, snacks and meals and other food

items without a valid licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Inspection

of the canteen revealed blatant violation of hygiene and sanitation rules and

improper waste management. The canteen does not provide safe drinking water, and

the workers lack medical fitness report.

The owner of the

canteen, Piyush Ravindra Larokar and was provided space on rental basis by the

IGGMCH from October, 2025 without verifying the Food Safety licence and other

related documents. The FDA has directed the canteen to suspend operation unit

the deficiency are rectified.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar