Delhi Government Launches 100 Atal Canteens on Vajpayee's Birthday

The Delhi government has announced the inauguration of 100 subsidised meal canteens, named Atal Canteens, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This initiative, which aims to provide affordable meals to residents, was confirmed by Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood.

The Atal Canteens will offer meals priced at ₹5 and are part of a broader commitment made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its election manifesto for the Delhi assembly elections. Minister Sood stated, 'One hundred canteens will be started from Thursday. The construction of some canteens was delayed due to GRAP restrictions for two months. But food will be served at all these places.'

A budget of ₹100 crore has been allocated for these canteens in the Delhi Budget for 2025-26. The government has previously established an inter-departmental committee to oversee the selection of sites, menu planning, distribution systems, and management of these food outlets.

The menu at the canteens will include staples such as dal-chawal (lentils and rice), various vegetables, and roti (Indian bread). Each canteen will be equipped to serve 500 meals in the morning and another 500 in the evening.

In a bid to ensure safety and quality, the food distribution centres will be monitored by CCTV cameras, with real-time surveillance facilitated through the digital platform of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board. Additionally, each kitchen will feature modern cooking appliances, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cooking systems, industrial reverse osmosis (RO) water facilities, and cold storage solutions.

Officials have indicated that more Atal Canteens are planned to open in the coming months, further expanding access to nutritious and affordable meals for the city's residents.