With no takers for tenders, Bangalore University’s Food Court has not served students for over a decade

Abandoned food court at Bangalore University leads students to rely on private food stalls due to lack of canteen options.

A group of three students who had just finished one of their MA examinations were eating ‘pani-puri’ from a chaat cart in the middle of Bangalore University’s Jnanabharathi campus. Behind them, sprawled across a large area was the university’s Food Court — its doors shuttered with a lock, windows broken and the entire premises abandoned.  

At one of Bengaluru’s most prestigious campuses, students have no choice but to depend on food sold by private vendors as the University only runs a couple of small canteens. The Food Court near the Civil Engineering Department has not been open for almost over 15 years now.  

“We are in the second year of our course and we have never seen the Food Court open,” said the trio. “There is only one canteen near the academic block, and we have a few shops which sell snacks near the Kannada Department. Otherwise, our only option is to eat from such chaat stalls,” said one of them. 

Jayakara S.M., vice chancellor, BU, said that although three tenders were floated to run the canteen in the Food Court, there had been no bidders. The latest tender was floated this year and the last date to submit bids was February 10. “We do not know the exact reason why nobody is coming forward. But some think that because there are hostels on the campus, the canteen might not do brisk business,” he added.  

Students and some local vendors say that bidders do not come forward due to BU’s proposal of providing the space for rent. “They fix the rent at ₹15,000 per month. It is such a large space and whoever runs it will need at least 8–10 staff members. The cost of operating it would be too much and that is why no private parties are coming forward,” said Bhagya, who sells chaat in front of the Food Court. As proof of the demand for food on the campus, she says that she earns around ₹7,000–₹8,000 on average. 

Lokesh Ram, Vice-President of Bangalore University Postgraduate and Research Scholars Union, says that the university should try a lease model instead of a rent model to attract more bidders.  

“Private entities will not be ready to make any renovations and use the Food Court if the rent agreement is only for a year or so. Instead, if it is a five-year lease, then they would definitely want to consider it. Apart from providing good quality food for students, the Food Court can also serve as a lively space to socialise on campus, bringing together students from various streams,” Mr. Ram said.