Bengaluru: In a less than 40 days after the state Cabinet took a decision to award the tender for construction of ‘Indira Canteens’ in 198 wards of Bengaluru to KFE Infra, BBMP has implemented the project on a war footing and will serve subsidized food to Bengalureans at 125 canteens across the city starting from Independence Day.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired a meeting to review the progress of the Indira Canteen project here on Friday. BBMP officials led by Commissioner Manjunath Prasad and Special Commissioner (Finance) of BBMP, R. Manoj who is also Managing Director and CEO of Rastriya-e-Market Services (ReMS) told the CM that 125 canteens will be ready to serve food from August 15 and the remaining 73 canteens will be ready on October 2, 2017.
The BBMP has maintained complete transparency in the project from awarding tenders to procuring supplies. The whole project has been video and photographed with the progress updated in the official website of BBMP. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr Manoj said construction has started in 72 sites and construction of 33 canteen buildings has been completed while the remaining 39 canteens will be ready in a week. Construction of kitchens has started in 9 sites out of 28, he said.
Two caterers bag bid to prepare food
Chef Talk Pvt Limited and Rewards, an NGO, have bagged the tender to prepare food for Indira Canteens. These two companies quoted the lowest bid for serving subsidized food three times. Chef Talk quoted Rs 34 (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and Rewards quoted Rs 32. The caterers will earn Rs 25 from customers (Rs 5 for breakfast and Rs 10 each for lunch and dinner), Mr Manoj explained. The CM has ordered both BBMP and BESCOM to provide all necessary utilities to Indira Canteens on or before July 25. Nodal officers have been appointed to oversee the progress and implementation of the project. After citizens alleged cutting of trees and construction of canteens in parks, the BBMP has categorically instructed its engineers not to construct the canteens in playgrounds and parks. It has also instructed the officials not to cut the trees unnecessarily for construction of canteens.
Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George hit back at BBMP Council member and BJP leader N.R. Ramesh for his bribery charges against him and the Chief Minister in awarding tender to Indira Canteens. Mr George advised Mr Ramesh to ‘get treatment at NIMHANS’. Since the progress of Indira Canteens will be updated on the official website of BBMP and transparency will be maintained, there is no question of illegalities in the project, he maintained.
