Mysuru: The Indira canteens that opened in Mysuru city on January 13, received an overwhelming response from the public. Long serpentine queues, to avail a token for the affordable priced meals were seen at all the 11 Indira canteens on Saturday, just a day after their inauguration by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
B R Shantamma, wife of a patient undergoing treatment at K R Hospital was one among the many to have had breakfast and lunch at the Indira Canteen built within the hospital premise. The lady welcomed this initiative of the government stating that such facility would help a large number of people. Speaking to Newskarnataka, she said, “For the past one week my husband is admitted in K R Hospital. I have been spending around Rs 30 for a simple anna sambar at the canteen located here earlier. However, now I can avail breakfast, lunch and dinner only at Rs 25 at the Indira Canteen thereby saving around Rs 100 daily. It’s really a great initiative on the part of the government. I thank the government for providing this facility and request public to make use of the facility by following some discipline, including keeping the plates at the stipulated place.” She also mentioned that it would be nicer to have a separate queue for women, as it will be more comfortable for them to stand in the queue.
At most of the canteens, breakfast was over within two hours since it started at 7 AM. The scenario was very much the same at lunch time, which started at 1 PM and got over by 2.30 PM. Breakfast is being served at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at Rs 10 and around 500 people are served in each session. In each canteen, apart from the cleaning staff, 8 to 9 members are working. Corporation Health Officer Dr. Nagaraj will be visiting each canteen to monitor cleanliness. Foods to these canteens are being supplied from two centralised kitchens located near PKTB Sanitorium and Allanahalli.
The eleven canteens have been set up in CADA office premise, K R Hospital premise, KSRTC bus stand, near Chamarajapuram railway station, PKTB hospital premise on KRS road, Highway Circle, Azeez Sait Nagar, Dr. Rajkumar Road, T Narasipur road junction near Allanahalli, near Sewage Farm in Vidyaranyapuram and N R Mohalla. All these canteens are being run by the corporation.
