GHMC plans to transform Annapurna centres into spacious centres

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is planning to transform the small and cramped Rs 5 meals Annapurna centres into spacious centres where visitors can have their lunch devoid of any dust and pollution. There are 150 such centres across the city which are being operated on roadsides, hospital premises, pavements, at junctions and other places. People are forced to consume meals amid flying dust and sound pollution.

At the centres, visitors are offered a water sachet, while there is no provision for washing hands before having the meals. Giving in to the requisitions and suggestions from various quarters, the municipal corporation was planning to transform them into spacious ones with improved amenities. Efforts were on to convert them into covered facilities with provision for hand wash and purified water, said a senior GHMC official.

They would be developed to appear like huge containers using mild steel prefabricated structures. The best part was they could be relocated, he said. The proposal was discussed during the last Standing



Committee Meeting, but a few corporators wanted the issue to be discussed later; hence. the proposal was kept pending, he added.

To begin with, the corporation is planning to transform 10 Annapurna centres in each zone, totalling to 60 modified centres. Though appreciated by many for the quality and quantity of food being offered, there have been requisitions for better amenities. As a temporary move, a private company last year had equipped some of these centres with washbasins and liquid soaps, and people could use the facility for free.

Every day, over 50,000 people, including students, marketing executives and daily workers, have lunch at the centres. The GHMC spends nearly Rs 30 crore a year towards this scheme. At present, the cost of each meal prepared at the centralised kitchen of the Hare Krishna Movement at Narsingi works out to Rs 24.60, and the GHMC is providing a subsidy of Rs 19.60. The menu includes 450 gm rice, 100 gm dal, 150 gm curry, a spoon of pickle and a water sachet.