Overview
- Forty-five of the planned 100 canteens began service on December 25, with the remaining 55 expected to open within 15–20 days, according to officials.
- Beneficiaries pay Rs 5 per meal as a symbolic contribution while the government bears about Rs 25; the initiative is budgeted at roughly Rs 100 crore, with Rs 104.24 crore cited for operations and management.
- Each canteen is set to serve two sittings daily of about 500 plates each, offering a standard thali of dal, rice, roti and seasonal vegetables during typical hours of 11 am–4 pm and 6:30 pm–9:30 pm.
- Operations feature digital token distribution, real-time CCTV monitoring via DUSIB, and regular FSSAI/NABL testing, with 11 agencies contracted and about 700 jobs linked to the rollout.
- The launch, held on Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary, drew political response as Congress leader Devender Yadav pressed for an urban work guarantee and questioned long-term costs, citing a Rs 7,104 crore annual estimate.