BENGALURU: While Indira Canteens have been witnessing long queues in most of the areas ever since their launch, the lone Appaji Canteen in South Bengaluru, started by JD(S) MLC T A Saravana, is already a big hit with over 1,000 people relishing the south Karnataka fare at subsidised prices every day. The Appaji Canteen, named after former PM H D Deve Gowda, is located in Srinagar.
When Express visited both the canteens in Hanumanthanagar ward, most of the people opined that food provided at Appaji Canteen was tastier and healthier. Small queues and more quantity of food served in each plate also attract many to Appaji Canteen. Ragi mudde and thatte idli are the favourites here. For officegoers and school students, who are not so fussy about taste and want to eat at a lower cost, visiting Indira Canteen is the best bet.
Staff at this canteen also do not mind giving food parcels, if the customers are students in hurry. “Many times, students come here to have their breakfast and ask us to parcel food for lunch. We do it for them. But we don’t give more than one parcel,” said Nagesh, an employee at Hanumanthanagar Indira canteen. On the other hand, Appaji Canteen staff are now strict with no- parcel rule. The staff say that earlier, people would come and get as many as 10-15 thatte idlis and 10 plates of rice bath parcelled. “Because of this, the food was getting over in just 20 minutes and many had to return hungry. So we stopped parcel services,” said Venkatesh, Appaji Canteen chef.
Business at nearby hotels hit
With thousands flocking the Appaji and Indira Canteens, hotels nearby are feeling the heat. Mani, who works at a fast food hotel near the Appaji Canteen, says business is down by 30-40 per cent. “Business has also been hit at 4-5 other hotels in the vicinity. However, those who do not want to stand in queues visit our hotel,” he added. Ramesh, a worker at a hotel located near Indira Canteen, said their business has been hit, but not to a great extent. “We might have suffered a loss of maximum 10 % in business,” he added.
Appaji vs Indira canteens
For the past one month since the lauch of Indira Canteen, the politics over the canteen project is a hot topic of discussion among those who come to have food at Appaji Canteen. From politics over canteens to comparison of menus and the price list — everything is discussed over a meal. But the customers are in unison about one thing — as long as they get cheap food, who gets political mileage from such projects does not bother them.
‘Good quality food’
As early as 7 am every morning, 30 minutes before the Appaji Canteen opens, a long line of people can be seen on 50 feet road in Srinagar. The customers mainly include sales executives, auto drivers and daily wage workers. Traffic is partially affected as there is no space for parking on the road and the footpath is teeming with people having food. The canteen is open between 7.30 am and 9.30 am for breakfast and again between 1pm and 3pm for lunch. Rajesh, an auto driver said, “The quality of food is very good, but only that we have to stand in queue and wait for our turn. Prices are really affordable and I do not have any problem waiting for the food.”
Manjunath, a sales executive, too echoed similar views. “The food is really cheap and of good quality,” he says. The Indira Canteen in Hanumanthanagar is popular among school going children and senior citizens. The canteen serves food three times a day and gets more customers than Appaji Canteen. The coupons get sold within 30 minutes after the business hour starts. The space constraint causes inconvenience and the premises can hardly accommodate 300 people at a time. Vedesh, an employee at a private firm, said, “The quantity of food might be less here, but the quality is good. Indira Canteen must start cooking thatte idlis and some more dishes.”