BENGALURU: With an eye on the 2018 Assembly polls, the Siddaramaiah government is now going all out to tickle the taste buds of the local populace through customised Indira Canteen menus. The budget canteens, which are being developed on the lines of Amma Canteens of Tamil Nadu, will serve local cuisines at not more than Rs 10.
For instance, the canteens will serve jowar roti in North Karnataka, while people in Old Mysuru region will be served ragi mudde and those in the coastal region will be served fish curry with rice.
Indira Canteens, which are said to be the chief minister’s pet project, are aimed at serving food at affordable prices. The canteens will be launched in Bengaluru on August 15.
A senior official of the Urban Development Department told Express, “We are getting pre-fabricated concrete slabs from Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu to build these canteens.”
Minister for Municipal Administration Eshwar Khandre said this novel initiative will be extended to other parts of the state soon. “We want to start similar canteens in tier-II and tier-III cities to cater to the urban poor,’’ he said.
Khandre added that the menu will be designed keeping in mind the local cuisine. “There will be jowar roti for cities in North Karnataka, ragi mudde and rice items for Mysuru, Mandya and Hassan regions, and fish curry for coastal regions,” he said.
Sources in the Department of Municipal Administration said BBMP limits will have more canteens as compared to other districts and towns. A source said, “We will take feedback from BBMP on running the canteens. We want to launch the canteens in other parts of the state by Gandhi Jayanti.”
