The Indian Express             19.11.2013

MNC food chains may set up shop at BMC headquarters

The BMC might soon have international food chain outlets at its headquarters at Fort, south Mumbai. In a bid to revamp its canteen, the civic body has suggested setting up a food court and the administration will soon invite tenders from various food chains such as KFC, McDonalds, Cafe Coffee Day and Starbucks.

While the canteen provides food and tea at a subsidised rate, employees as well as visitors to the civic headquarters will have to pay more if the food court is set up.

"A food court will offer more variety. Both foreign outlets and some popular city-based outlets will be invited to set up stalls," said Rahul Shewale, BMC standing committee chairman and Shiv Sena corporator.

The proposal, which has been mooted by Shewale, is in final stages of approval from the civic administration. The BMC canteen offers vada pav, idli, sabudana vada, upma, sev puri, sandwiches and gulab jamun, among other dishes. Nearly a month ago, a proposal to get food from the high-end Thacker's restaurant in south Mumbai for standing committee members during meetings was rejected by the administration. Corporators from the standing committee meeting had said the food provided during the meetings was 'unhygienic' and of low quality.

Shewale has now started paying for the food brought from Thacker's restaurant during panel meets from his own pocket.

In September, the BMC had passed a proposal backed by Shiv Sena youth wing president Aditya Thackeray to keep eateries and shops open 24X7 in the city. The proposal is now pending with the state government.