Bengaluru: Though the BBMP had initially set an ambitious target of setting up an Indira Canteen in all the 198 wards in the city by Independence Day, it could get only 101 ready, due to constraints in finding a favourable location. The remaining 97 canteens will be opened on Gandhi Jayanthi, said G. Padmavathi, Mayor.
The 101 canteens will be inaugurated by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.
The Mayor has been accusing the opposition party corporators for lack of support. However, she is confident that by all the canteens will be ready by Gandhi Jayanti, as she felt the people will start questioning their corporators, if a canteen is not opened in their vicinity.
Addressing media persons, Padmavathi said, "Come Wednesday, 101 Indira Canteens will be inaugurated. Even though the figure is less than our initial promise of opening 125 canteens for Independence day, this is a great achievement in a short span of time."
Indira canteens will serve breakfast for as low as Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at prices will cost Rs 10, Padmavathi said and added that the state government will provide a subsidy of Rs 32 for breakfast, lunch and dinner all put together.
BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad said there will no compromise on the quality of food served and a BBMP app will help people find the nearest canteen based on their location, apart from providing information on the dishes being served for the day. He further added that feedback will be received via the app and explained that this will help them place future orders for food.
Only 500 plates to be served
BBMP, which had initially said that the canteens will serve 750 plates - breakfast (250 plates), lunch (250) and dinner (250), said on Saturday that it will serve only 500 plates per day. For the convenience of the customers, BBMP will be putting up a display board on the number of plates served and the remaining. The customers can decide whether or not to stand in queues if the food is about to get over. The Mayor said the number of plates may be increased in the future.
