A modern street food hub will soon be established at the world-famous heritage destination of Hampi under the Centre’s PM SVANidhi scheme to provide tourists and local residents with a variety of quality food items under one roof, Vijayanagara Deputy Commissioner Kavita S. Mannikeri has said.

Chairing a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Hosapete recently regarding the implementation of the project, Ms. Mannikeri said that the main objective of the food hub is to provide clean, hygienic and diverse food options to thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site every year.

She said that the initiative will also help empower local street vendors economically while adding a new dimension to tourism in Hampi.

The project is being implemented under the street vendors component of the PM SVANidhi scheme of the Central government, she added.

Ms. Mannikeri said that the State government has identified five tourist destinations in Karnataka, Chamundi Hills, Belur-Halebidu, Ganagapur, Pattadakal and Hampi, for the establishment of such street food hubs and described Hampi’s inclusion in the list as a matter of pride.

“Each cluster will be developed at an estimated cost of ₹4 crore, with temporary stalls being set up for vendors. The Hampi Gram Panchayat and the Kamalapura Town Municipality will jointly implement the project,” she said.

She said that proposals have already been submitted after identifying three locations for the food hub.

Among them, sites opposite the giant banyan tree area and near the Hampi parking zone at Gutti Land have been identified and proposals seeking land allotment have been forwarded, she added.

The Deputy Commissioner said that each food hub will accommodate around 50 vendors and stressed the need to provide clean and tasty food to tourists from across the country and abroad.

She also instructed officials to ensure adequate basic amenities such as drinking water, shaded areas and sanitation facilities around the stalls.

District Urban Development Cell Director Manohar, Hampi Development Authority Commissioner Ramesh, District Skill Development Department Campaign Manager Devaraj and officials from various departments were present at the meeting.