New Delhi, 25 December (H.S.): On the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday inaugurated the first phase of the ‘Atal Canteen’ initiative at Nehru Nagar and several other locations across the national capital.

The launch event was attended by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood, and MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Gupta said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had made a commitment in its election manifesto to establish Atal Canteens for Delhi residents, and that promise is now materializing. In the first phase, 45 Atal Canteens are being launched across Delhi, while 55 more will be opened soon to extend the benefit to a larger population.

The Chief Minister said that those involved in Delhi’s development — including workers, rickshaw pullers, sanitation staff, and daily wage earners — will now be able to access wholesome and nutritious meals for just ₹5. Each canteen will serve around 1,000 people during lunch and dinner sessions daily.

Gupta added that this initiative, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Seva (service), Su-śāsan (good governance), and Garib Kalyan (welfare of the poor), aims to make Delhi a city where no one sleeps hungry and food is served with dignity.

Highlighting the facilities, the Chief Minister said that every Atal Canteen is equipped with clean serving areas, purified drinking water, stainless steel tables and chairs, a digital token system, real-time CCTV monitoring, safe waste management, and a fully hygienic environment.

Each canteen will provide fresh and nutritious meals twice daily, ensuring strict adherence to food safety standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Additionally, health certifications for employees and compliance with all hygiene protocols will be mandatory.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar