Rasam or coloured water? Indira Canteens face heat in Bengaluru; GBA orders inspections

BENGALURU: Indira Canteens, launched to provide affordable meals to the city's working class, have come under the scanner after widespread complaints about the poor quality of food. Acting on these concerns, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has ordered a thorough inspection of all canteens across the west zone.The move came after Bengaluru West corporation commissioner Rajendra KV visited some canteens in the zone. The observations were grim — the rasam and sambar were watery, devoid of dal and vegetables, while the chapatis were rubbery and nearly inedible. "These canteens were meant to serve nutritious meals to the poor and the working class. What we found was far from acceptable. Immediate steps will be taken to improve quality and hygiene," said Rajendra.A TOI reality check across multiple Indira Canteens in the city confirmed similar issues. At several outlets, the sambar resembled flavoured water, gravy lacked vegetables, and rice was served half-cooked. Cleanliness in some kitchens also left much to be desired.

The Hemmigepura Indira Canteen barely saw any customers for over an hour between 10.30am and 11.30am Thursday, while the one located near Banashankari saw a few labourers eating but complaining about the quality of food.

Customers, many of whom depend on these canteens daily, expressed their disappointment. "The sambar is just hot water with a little salt and chilli powder. There is no nutrition in it. For people like me who can't afford hotel food every day, this is disheartening," said Manjunath Gowda, a garage worker near Banashankari.Meena Gangappa, a labourer near Hemmigepura, said, "The tomato bath doesn't even have tomatoes, or the tomatoes are very bad and there is no salt in it.

The curd rice is another challenge; it is just white water with rice. We prefer this because it is faster, but the quality is horrible.""We come here because it is subsidised. But if the food is not hygienic or nutritious, what's the point?" Nagarajaiah Lakkappa, an autorickshaw driver who frequently goes to the Indira Canteen at Okalipuram, told TOI.Rajendra said, "I understand that the quality of food is horrible, so I've issued an immediate order to check the quality of food across the canteens and also ordered the agency to submit a detailed report."Bengaluru North commissioner Pommala Sunil Kumar has also instructed the staff to maintain cleanliness inside and around Indira Canteens, and asked the engineering department officials to take up necessary civil repairs, including door maintenance. He has also instructed marshals to actively monitor the premises.