101 Indira Canteens to operate from today

Bengaluru: State Government's project ‘Indira Canteen’ to serve affordable food will roll out today.

Indira Canteens will be inaugurated today. The canteens will serve fresh meals at Rs 10 and breakfast at Rs 5.

CM Siddaramaiah had announced this project when he presented the budget on March 15, 2017. The BBMP commissioner was set a deadline of August 15 to launch 198 canteens in all the wards.

The canteens have come up in parks and playgrounds in some of the localities.

Residents' welfare associations (RWA) in Domlur, Sarakki and Jayanagar opposed the setting up of the canteens as they would cut into public spaces.

In Domlur, residents protested plans to set up an Indira canteen in a park, and BBMP moved it to a temple.

In Banashakari, BBMP faced problems as the temple authorities and public opposed the canteen coming up next to the temple.

In Murphy Town in East Bengaluru, the canteen was set up in a heritage building.

RWAs in Jayanagar have expressed concerns about handling of food waste and littering from the canteens.

City mayor G Padmavathi on Tuesday said the 101 Indira canteens will offer free dinner to visitors on Wednesday night to mark the inauguration.