Bengaluru: The state government’s latest scheme ‘Indira Canteens’ has turned out to be a hit as the footfall has touched almost 15 lakh in last three weeks. Following postive response, the government has decided to set up Indira Canteens in government hospitals and other districts hospitals too.

Food and civil supplies minister U T Khader, speaking to reporters said, “Moved by the response at Indira canteens, we are thinking of extending its coverage to more people.”

The government has decided to increase the number of plates from 900 to 1500 daily in each canteen. Government also has joined hands with NGOs to introduce mobile canteens under a new name in select places of Bengaluru.

The BBMP officials infomed that along with health department it has been finalising spaces in over 7 major government hospitals. “We have taken up work at KC General Hospital in Malleswaram and is expected to be completed within a fortnight. Indira canteens will also be introduced in Victoria and Sanjay Gandhi hospitals in one or two months,” they added.

The ambitious project of Indira Canteens was launched on August 16 by Congress Vice-presidnet Rahul Gandhi. In the initial phase of the launch, 101 canteens will serve vegetarian breakfast at Rs 5 per plate and lunch and dinner at Rs 10 each in 101 civic wards.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had provided Rs 100 crore in the state budget for this fiscal (2017-18) to run the canteens in all the 198 civic wards on the lines of the popular Amma Unavagam in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, started by late J. Jayalalithaa, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.