Indira Canteens in Bengaluru see 30% jump in business during lockdown

BENGALURU: With restaurants, small eateries and roadside food vendors having shut shop, Indira Canteens across Bengaluru have recorded an uptick in business.
“We were supplying food during the previous lockdown and continue to do so. We are catering mainly to people from the economically weaker section and labourers who eat out,” said Venkatesh, special commissioner, BBMP. “The number of people visiting the canteens might have gone down but overall sales have increased by 30%,” he added.
During the March-April lockdown, 161 Indira Canteens served free food to many people between 6am and 8pm, but the outlets were shut down after people started queuing up in hordes in violation of social-distancing norms. However, they were allowed to reopen within a week and asked to offer only takeaways.
Residents of PG accommodations are among those flocking to the canteens. According to Venkatesh, it’s affordability that is drawing people to Indira Canteens where three meals can be bought for Rs 30.
Indira Canteens at KSRTC bus stand in Majestic, KR Market, Banashankari bus stand and near Mantri Mall have seen the highest business, with each catering to 6,000 customers daily.
However, there have been complaints of food packets varying in size. “We have installed weighing machines in the canteens and anyone who feels the food quantity is less is allowed to check it. If the complaint is genuine, we will take stringent action against the manager,” the special commissioner added.