The Times of India 02.09.2009
MC gets nod for 'day' foodstreets
CHANDIGARH: With the city yet to adopt the idea of safe nocturnal dining, UT administration has stood by its decision of not allowing any more night
food streets and has instead agreed to allow municipal corporation (MC) to go ahead with food streets which would shut down by 10 pm.
At the coordination committee meeting with UT and MC officials convened by UT adviser Pradip Mehra, it has been decided that the two food streets would come up at sites already identified in Industrial Area phases I and II. The third project would be located in southern sectors.
Mayor Kamlesh said the administration had expressed reservations about having more night food streets in view of a series of incidents of violence at the existing one opposite PGI. That is why MC put forward a revised proposal to have the food streets open during the day.
It was also decided to make alterations in the architectural drawings to add seating arrangement and cover it with sheds so that customers don’t have to run for cover in case of rain, she said.
Planned on the lines of Gawal Mandi food street in Pakistan’s Lahore city, famous for its Punjabi and Mughlai dishes, MC had inaugurated the street in December 2008 with much fanfare.
MC expects to get the revised architectural plan by the end of the month so that the proposal could be approved in the house and work started at the earliest, she said.
In March, six inebriated youths had tried to molest a married woman near the night foodstreet opposite PGI. The incident occurred when the woman’s husband had gone to purchase food, leaving her and their daughter in the car. They had tried to pull the woman out of the vehicle. When she shouted for help, the miscreants had escaped in two cars.
In June, police had asked MC authorities to close the food street by 11 pm, instead of continuing with its 12-hour operation lasting from 7 pm to 7 am. However, MC had stated that the request was in contradiction with the very idea of night food streets.
At the coordination committee meeting with UT and MC officials convened by UT adviser Pradip Mehra, it has been decided that the two food streets would come up at sites already identified in Industrial Area phases I and II. The third project would be located in southern sectors.
Mayor Kamlesh said the administration had expressed reservations about having more night food streets in view of a series of incidents of violence at the existing one opposite PGI. That is why MC put forward a revised proposal to have the food streets open during the day.
It was also decided to make alterations in the architectural drawings to add seating arrangement and cover it with sheds so that customers don’t have to run for cover in case of rain, she said.
Planned on the lines of Gawal Mandi food street in Pakistan’s Lahore city, famous for its Punjabi and Mughlai dishes, MC had inaugurated the street in December 2008 with much fanfare.
MC expects to get the revised architectural plan by the end of the month so that the proposal could be approved in the house and work started at the earliest, she said.
In March, six inebriated youths had tried to molest a married woman near the night foodstreet opposite PGI. The incident occurred when the woman’s husband had gone to purchase food, leaving her and their daughter in the car. They had tried to pull the woman out of the vehicle. When she shouted for help, the miscreants had escaped in two cars.
In June, police had asked MC authorities to close the food street by 11 pm, instead of continuing with its 12-hour operation lasting from 7 pm to 7 am. However, MC had stated that the request was in contradiction with the very idea of night food streets.
