Vellore Corporation to float tenders for complete overhaul of Amma Canteens

After a decade of its opening, Amma canteens will soon get a fresh lease of life as the Vellore Corporation will float tenders for overhaul of the facilities in the coming week.

Corporation officials said that former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa virtually inaugurated the first Amma Canteen in the town in 2015 when the scheme was launched in the State. Since then, renovation of the facility has not been done.

“The Corporation is taking up restoration work of the canteens for the first time. A facelift will be given to the canteens,” R. Lakshmanan, Commissioner, told The Hindu.

Corporation officials said that tenders for the complete renovation of the canteens will be done next week. Subsequently, work will start in a fortnight as per norms. The entire work will be completed in two months. “Amma canteens help ordinary people to have quality food at affordable prices. Better amenities like seating arrangements, power supply, and handwash should be provided,” said G. Vasantha, a resident.

As per plan, damaged portions of the canteens, including the walls and roof will be plastered. Broken floor tiles will be replaced with new ones. New light settings will be installed in these canteens. Kitchens will be refurbished with new water pipelines. Electrical lines will also be checked thoroughly to prevent any power fluctuations and short circuits. Over Head Tank (OHT), which has a capacity of 50,000 litres, will be cleaned.

Motor pump sets connected to borewells that supply water to the canteens will be checked to ensure uninterrupted water supply. The facility will also be painted. As per estimates, cost of renovation of each canteen will vary between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh.

At present, the Corporation maintains 10 canteens in town that comprises 60 wards with eight lakh residents. Each canteen, on an average, gets a footfall of over 300 persons every day. The menu and cost of items remain unchanged in the canteens.

Corporation officials said that the canteen provides idlis, pongal, sambar, lemon and curd rice. Chapatis are served for dinner. Currently, the canteen is open between 7 a.m and 9 p.m on all days. Each canteen, on an average, is manned by 12 staff, who are mostly roped in from Women Self Help Groups (SHGs).