Corporation plans street-side eateries

CHENNAI: In a first-of-its-kind move, the Chennai Corporation has planned to open 1000 street-side hygienic eateries in its limits to sell idli, meals, curd and sambhar rice at nominal prices. On a trial basis, we would open about 200 such outlets in the first phase; depending on the response, more such eateries will be opened, Mayor Saidai Duraisamy told councillors during the Council meet on Wednesday.“The objective of these fast food centres is to provide quality food for Chennaiites and these food stalls will be named after Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa,” Duraisamy said amidst thundering applause from the ruling AIADMK councillors.The street-side food outlets will be a boon to school and college students from economically weaker sections, daily wage labourers and auto drivers in the city, the Mayor said.After a lengthy discussion, which only praised the Mayor for introducing the scheme, the Corporation Council adopted the resolution seeking a nod from the State government to start street-side eateries.According to the plan, a team led by City Corporation health officer would execute and monitor the scheme in coordination with revenue and Corporation zonal officials.The team would periodically review the quality and quantity of food items (prepared at the civic body’s common kitchen) served in these stalls that would be entirely operated by the Chennai Corporation.