With eateries shut, public find it tough to satisfy hunger pangs

​Hyderabad: Tiffin centres, restaurants and hotels at various places in the State capital took a day off from work due to Assembly elections held on Friday. This led to inconvenience, mostly during lunch time, for city public, including voters. 

Many scouted for opened eateries even if it meant travelling a few kilometres to fill their stomach. Bakeries and roadside food joints were kept open to bring some respite. Even food delivery apps that usually give multiple options for customers to give online orders had shown limited eateries in the afternoon. However, by evening, after the polling concluded, some of the eateries, especially biryani-serving hotels, resumed their business. 

G Ashok, an engineering student staying in a room in Anandnagar, said that he and his friends had a difficult time finding a mess during lunch hours. “We, sometimes, depend on food delivery apps and even they offered limited service like delivery of bakery items,” he said.

Meanwhile, Telangana Hotels Association stated that eateries in Hyderabad remained shut as staff and workers left for their native places to cast their votes. As Friday was declared holiday, people would be either busy in polling work or stay confined to their houses most of the day and hence, hotels and restaurants remained shut expecting dull business, he said.

On the other hand, the ever-busy city roads wore a deserted look all through the day because of polling and holiday declared by the State government for offices and educational institutions. Private establishments and businesses also did not function giving an opportunity for staff to exercise their franchise.