With the corporation planning to set up 800 more Amma Unavagams, which have become a runaway hit, a separate department is being mooted to run them with a proposed expenditure of around 2.77 crore.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting of the corporation council here on Wednesday. Amma Unavagams, which offer hygienic food at very lower prices, were launched a few months back.

Currently 200 such canteens are functioning in 200 wards of Chennai Corporation. At present, the engineering, health and revenue departments of the Corporation have the responsibility of overseeing the functioning of these canteens.

However, as this comes in addition to the regular functions of these departments, it has burdened officials of these divisions, the resolution noted.

The civic body plans to begin the new department to offer better services at the canteens.  Mayor Saidai S Duraisamy said, “The Corporation plans to set up 800 more such canteens in different parts of the city. Members of Swarna Jayanthi Shahari Rozgar Yojana would also be employed.”