Fisheries Department and BENFISH Roll Out Nine Electric “Food on Wheels” Vans to Boost Fish Trade and Tackle Urban Pollution

By A Staff Reporter

The Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal, together with the West Bengal State Fishermen’s Co-operative Federation Ltd. (BENFISH), has inaugurated a fleet of nine customized electric “Food on Wheels” vans to sell fish products across Kolkata and neighbouring localities. The vehicles were procured via the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) through a customised bid.

Spearheaded by the Fisheries Department and operated by BENFISH, the project is a joint effort with the Department of Environment under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), implemented locally by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB). Source apportionment studies in the state’s non-attainment cities have highlighted vehicular emissions as a key contributor to urban air pollution; replacing diesel vending units with electric vehicles is the initiative’s central aim.

Designed as self-contained mobile fish stalls, the BENFISH vans include stainless-steel cooking tops, refrigerated storage for frozen products, storage cabinets, awning windows and folding canopies for customer comfort. Onboard appliances include LPG-operated ovens and deep fryers with dedicated LPG cages and leak sensors; safety features comprise two ABC-type 5 kg fire extinguishers and a PTZ security camera. A foot-operated wash basin and digital display panels—intended for menus and public information—round out the specifications.

The Fisheries Department emphasised that BENFISH will use the vans both to expand market access for fish producers and to serve as mobile platforms for public outreach. The digital screens will carry audiovisual content from state departments covering fisheries, environment, health and consumer affairs, linking livelihoods with public-health and environmental messaging. The move underlines the Fisheries Department and BENFISH’s dual objectives: improving vendor incomes while contributing to cleaner, quieter urban streets.