GVMC plans to set up 20 Anna Canteens in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has planned to set up Anna Canteens on lines of Amma Canteens of Tamil Nadu at 40 places in Vizag city. 

As the canteens received good response in Tamil Nadu and Telangana state, in the beginning, the GVMC will set Anna Canteens near RTC Complex, Railway Station, Jagadamba Junction, Gajuwaka and few other industrials areas in the city.

The subsidised Anna Canteens will be helpful for small employees and the floating population in the city. A team of officials from state including GVMC Commissioner M Hari Narayanan had visited Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Haryana and few other states to understand the functioning and operation of subsidised canteens.  

A senior officer with GVMC said the standard menu and price on an average is Rs 5 for breakfast and Rs 10 for lunch and dinner. The total cost for providing the meal for three times a day will be around Rs 60. While the customer pays Rs 25, the rest is borne by the state government.

Speaking to The Hans India, GVMC Commissioner Hari Narayan said the Director of Municipal Administration submitted proposals for setting up of over 200 Anna Canteens in Andhra Pradesh, where the floating population is more.

As per the estimates, Rs 38 lakh will be provided to construct a canteen and Rs 79 lakh will be spent on construction of kitchen. Though GVMC had identified over 20 places for setting up Anna Canteens, it has identified 20 more places for the establishment of canteens based on the increased floating population. If everything goes as per plans, each zone in Vizag city will get four to five canteens in coming two to three months, said the officials.