Tirupati civic officials sealed storerooms, seized expired and pest-infested food materials and imposed a fine after inspections at three Table 9 restaurant branches found serious hygiene violations at two outlets on Saturday. The action followed public complaints about food safety in the temple city.
Health officials led by municipal health officer Dr Yuva Anvesh inspected the restaurants near the RTC bus stand, on KT Road and at Karakambadi Road. Municipal commissioner M. Jaya Krishna warned hotels and restaurants against violating food safety and hygiene standards, saying stringent action would be taken against establishments selling substandard food.
At the RTC bus stand branch, inspectors found unhygienic kitchens, utensil-cleaning areas and storage facilities. The outlet also lacked pest-control measures and the mandatory certificate. Officials sealed its storeroom during the inspection.
The KT Road branch was found to have dirty kitchen and utensil-cleaning areas, mouldy walls, blocked drains, improper waste disposal and cockroach infestation in its storeroom. Inspectors also found expired and pest-infested food materials, including bread packets. The use of banned single-use plastic was detected at the premises.
Officials seized the prohibited and expired materials, sealed the storeroom, imposed a fine and issued a notice prohibiting business operations until the premises were cleaned and pest-control measures were implemented. The report did not specify the amount of the fine or the duration of the business restriction.
The Karakambadi Road branch was found to be maintaining satisfactory hygiene standards during the same inspection drive. The contrasting findings across the three outlets underline the role of routine, complaint-based inspections in monitoring food businesses operating in a city that receives large numbers of pilgrims and visitors.
The municipal commissioner said the civic body was committed to ensuring quality food for residents and pilgrims visiting Tirupati. He warned that strict action would be taken against hotels found compromising public health. The affected branch was required to complete cleaning and pest-control measures before resuming operations, according to the inspection action reported by officials.
