Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 9

Losses due to the Covid-19 has led to the closure of some of the popular government-leased out food joints in city.

The agencies have surrendered the operations of CITCO’s ‘Stop n Stare’ in Sector 10, Sector 34 based ‘Drop in’, and MC’s food joint in Shanti Kunj, Sector 16.

The authorities have now invited expression of interest from interested parties for licensing out these outlets.

For ‘Drop in’, the interested parties can submit their bids till August 18. For ‘Stop n stare’, the last date for applying is August 16.

Authorities invite expression of interest

• For ‘Drop in’, the interested parties can submit their bids till August 18. For ‘Stop n stare’, the last date for applying is August 16.
• For Shanti Kunj outlet, along with four shops each at the Terraced Garden in Sector 33 and Shivalik Garden, Mani Majra, open auction will be held on August 26. These outlets will be given on monthly rent basis.

For Shanti Kunj outlet, along with four shops each at the Terraced Garden in Sector 33 and Shivalik Garden, Mani Majra, open auction will be held on August 26. These outlets will be given on monthly rent basis.

Anurag Sharma, who was running the ‘Drop in’ and ‘Stop n stare’ outlets, said: “There were huge losses due to Covid. There was no footfall owing to the closure of educational institutions. To top it all, few customers who used to visit also stopped coming as the authorities opened a testing centre right in front of the Stop n Stare entrance.”

Sharma also blamed the UT Administration for the closure of ‘Drop in’.

“At the time of taking the premises, it was allowed to run a pub there. But after I took over, the liquor license was not granted. I was asked to contact different departments and it did not work out. Thus, I have surrendered,” he said.

Prem Pal, CITCO Union president, felt: “CITCO should run the operations itself rather than privatising it. If CITCO outlets were in losses earlier, they were due to its bad policies.”

As far as Shanti Kunj is concerned, according to information, in December 2019 it was allotted to a contractor. But, in March 2020, Covid hit its operations and the contractor surrendered. Since then, there were no takers for it despite repeated attempts of the MC.

Meanwhile, visitors miss the outlets at these popular places. All of these are lying closed and dumped. Due to closure, their maintenance has also taken a toll and the outlets present a picture of neglect.