Upa Lokayukta orders seizure of expired food and calls for better hygiene at Belagavi bus stand

Upa Lokayukta Justice B. Veerappa ordered officials of the Food and Drug Administration to confiscate all out‑of‑date food items found in the stalls of the NWKRTC bus stand in Belagavi during a surprise visit on 29 October 2026. He reported that several eateries were selling expired products and that many shops lacked displayed price lists or issued receipts for purchases. The inspector also pointed out unhygienic restroom conditions and irregular garbage removal across the premises. In a pharmacy within the complex he discovered that the food‑safety licence had lapsed and directed that workers be paid at least the statutory minimum wage and be protected from any harassment. He warned food‑safety officers for failing to carry out regular checks and instructed them to enforce the new rules immediately. The Upa Lokayukta further noted that the lodging facility’s bills omitted tax details and that the bus stand had no CCTV cameras, prompting him to ask the local police to conduct periodic security audits. Officials present included Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Prasanna Desai, District Legal Services Authority member‑secretary K.N. Shivakumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Vijayakumar Honakeri, Assistant Commissioner Shravan Nayak, City Corporation Commissioner Karthik M. and senior NWKRTC staff.

Context

The inspection highlights ongoing concerns about food safety and worker rights in public transport hubs, where lax oversight can affect large numbers of daily commuters.