The Surat Municipal Corporation inspected 36 food stalls at four major garba venues during its Navratri food-safety drive on Wednesday, collecting 18 samples for laboratory testing and issuing six notices for hygiene lapses and other shortcomings.
The inspections were carried out by the SMC Food Department at Umiyadham Temple on A K Road, Otlo Navratri in Mota Varachha, Dayalji Party Plot at Majura Gate and Garba Global Village in Vesu. These venues are among the locations drawing large crowds during the festival period, when temporary food stalls operate alongside event facilities.
The municipal action focused on checking food stalls and collecting samples for testing. The report did not specify the nature of the six hygiene violations, the names of the stall operators who received notices or the deadlines given for compliance.
In a separate inspection, the SMC-organised Food Festival 2026 was also checked. Officials collected eight additional food samples from stalls at that event, taking the total number of samples collected across the reported inspections to 26.
The inspections place temporary food vendors within the city’s festival-management framework, where municipal authorities are responsible for monitoring hygiene conditions at high-footfall public events. Notices issued during such drives provide an immediate compliance mechanism, while laboratory testing is intended to establish whether sampled food meets applicable safety requirements.
The next stage will depend on the results of the laboratory testing and any further action by the SMC Food Department against stalls found to have violated food-safety or hygiene requirements.
