Roadside eateries cash in as Tiruchi awaits hygienic street food hub

Unregulated growth of roadside eateries in Tiruchi raises hygiene concerns among residents, prompting proposed street food hub.

The unregulated growth of roadside eateries has raised concerns over hygiene among Tiruchi residents.

On any given day, vendors can be seen operating in the city from makeshift counters and pushcarts catering to a wide section of customers. The cuisine ranges from snacks to full course meals, depending on the time of day.

“People are selling pre-cooked food, as also dishes made on the spot in pushcarts. Since most of the shops are exposed to vehicular traffic, the danger of contamination with oil fumes or dust is high. But customers continue to patronise them,” said an activist.

Some businesses have also started encroaching common areas by putting out plastic tables and chairs to accommodate their customers during rush hours.

In the city’s interior shopping districts, food sellers often stand in close proximity to open ditches. A considerable amount of solid waste in the form of disposable plates and glasses is also generated by roadside eateries.

A senior Tiruchi Corporation official told The Hindu that the local administrative authority’s proposed street food hub would come up on a site near the sports complex being constructed on a 2.3-acre land near Uzhavar Santhai at Anna Nagar.

“We have requested for a government grant of ₹2 crore for the project, and they have appraised it. We are awaiting funding,” said the official.