Kiosks yet to be allotted in Barabati food court opened on Aug 31

Cuttack: Even though over three months have passed since the inauguration of Barabati food court by housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Aug 31, it is yet to become operational.The Rs 8.5 crore project with 75 kiosks was built near Barabati Stadium by Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to provide a hygienic environment to sell food as well as promote tourism and livelihood. But the shops are yet to be allotted giving rise to resentment among vendors, who could have done brisk business with major sporting events frequently being hosted at the Barabati Stadium.According to the CMC, the project started in 2023 and completed in 2024.

“The food court was supposed to give us a permanent and hygienic space. We were hopeful after the inauguration, but months have passed and nothing has moved,” said Laxmidhar Behera, a street food vendor, who operates near the stadium.Residents echoed similar concerns pointing out that the locked facility has already started showing signs of neglect. “Public money has been spent but the infrastructure is lying unused.

If it remains closed longer, maintenance issues will crop up,” said Abhaya Pattnaik, a social activist.“As huge money was spent, several umbrellas, lights, plants, trees and structures were installed. Now many lights are missing. The facility should at least be barricaded to prevent theft. Its unfortunate to witness such a big project lying defunct,” said Suresh Das, a resident Buxi Bazar.CMC officials admitted that procedural delays have slowed the rollout.

“There were issues related to vendor selection, operating guidelines and co-ordination with different departments. These are being addressed,” said a senior civic official, adding that the corporation aims to make the food court functional soon.“Some technical and policy-related matters caused the delay, but we are in the final stages of resolving them,” said mayor Subhash Singh. “The kiosks will be allotted transparently, and the food court will be made operational at the earliest,” he added.Once functional, the food court is expected to put a stop to roadside vending around the stadium and offer citizens a dedicated and regulated food destination. As of now, the food court continues to wait for its first customer.