Soon, model food stalls to instill better, safer practices

Kolkata: The New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA), Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority (NDITA )and WEBEL will set up some model roadside food stalls with better looks in Sector V.

The NGOs have been requested to encourage food stall owners to adopt fire safety and hygienic norms. NKDA, NDITA and WEBEL will upgrade two to three food kiosks on pavements and upgrade them. This is for the first time when such a step has been taken.

Around two lakh IT employees come to Sector V and New Town daily and so economic food option at lunch time make the street food economy a thriving enterprise.

As Sector V is the state's IT hub, steps have been taken to provide quality food to the employees. The existing roadside stalls make brisk business but no proper fire safety and hygienic norms are followed.

As the food is cheap, people opt for them. Once the food stalls are upgraded with better fire safety and hygiene norms, they are expected to attract more people. The firms having businesses in Sector V have been requested to develop the food stalls situated on the pavements in front of their office.

A multi-level car parking with food stalls on the ground floor and first floor for relocated food kiosks have been planned. It may be mentioned that besides Unitech in New Town, a one acre plot has been developed and new stalls with common dining areas have been distributed to the owners through a transparent lottery. It may be recalled that Café Ekante has opened an exclusive South Indian outlet at New Town bus stand in Action Area I as there is high demand for South Indian food among those who come to the area for work in the evening.