KOCHI: Mayor V K Minimol on Sunday announced that a central kitchen would be set up soon in the city to serve food at the Kochi corporation-run Samridhi@Kochi and Indira Canteen. The corporation also plans to open two new outlets at Vyttila hub and Vypeen Jetty.
The civic body has identified a one-acre space at Manappattiparambu for the purpose. Federal Bank has agreed to release Rs 3 crore to set up the central kitchen with modern machinery, the mayor said.
“Work on the central kitchen will begin in three months and the facility will be ready to prepare food without much delay,” Minimol told TNIE.
She said the limited space available at Samridhi had become a major concern while planning its expansion, prompting the corporation to propose a central kitchen facility.
“We first thought of setting up the central kitchen at Edappally, but that didn’t work out. Now, the location has been finalised, at Manappattiparambu,” the mayor said.
Currently, Samridhi@Kochi has four outlets, which have been running profitably. Samridhi offers three meals a day at a total cost of Rs 50. After the UDF came to power in the corporation last year, Indira Canteen was also opened, serving Rs 10-breakfast and dinner. With demand growing for the pocket-friendly food, more Samridhi and Indira outlets are set to be opened across the city, once the central kitchen is ready.
“Though we have plans to open more outlets, a major limitation now is the lack of a central kitchen,” said Antony Painuthura, the welfare standing committee chairperson.
“The new facility will also help us purchase various stocks in a budgeted manner as we will get more storage space. We have also launched a website and Samridhi software, which enhance the operations of Samridhi@Kochi and Indira Canteen.”
According to reports, over the past five years, Samridhi has served 38 lakh subsidised meals of Rs 20. On an average, 1,000 subsidised meals are served at outlets in the city.
“To serve these meals, Samridhi has to make a profit out of serving other dishes through the outlets, apart from the subsidy grant from the corporation. The Samridhi staff have been successful in making this profitable while working towards making Kochi a hunger-free city,” the mayor added.
Samridhi@Kochi completes 5 years
The corporation celebrated the completion of five years of Samridhi@Kochi on Sunday. Actor Rima Kallingal was the chief guest at the function, which saw 21 women staff who have been serving since the beginning of Samridhi being felicitated. MLA T J Vinod and Deputy Mayor V R Sudheer attended the event