Stalled Inauguration of Food Streets in Kolkata Sparks Concern

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, March 20, 2025, Kolkata : The Central Government's ambitious plan to establish high-quality 'food streets' in 100 cities across India has hit a roadblock in Kolkata. Despite the construction of three such food hubs in the city, their inauguration remains indefinitely postponed due to ongoing disputes over stall distribution. The food streets were scheduled to open in 2024, offering a diverse culinary experience ranging from Chinese and Mughlai to Indian and Continental cuisines. However, unresolved tensions over stall allocation have delayed the launch, leaving these expensive establishments unused and deteriorating.

The food stalls, built at a cost of several crores of rupees, now stand neglected. According to municipal sources, the primary issue revolves around who will manage these stalls. One faction advocates for handing them over to large corporations to attract more visitors and enhance the appeal of the food streets. Another group insists that, as per the Centre’s guidelines, only registered hawkers should be allowed to operate these stalls. Further complicating matters, there is no consensus on the process of selecting hawkers and conducting fair allotment elections.

Due to this administrative impasse, the completed stalls at Russell Street, Patuli, and Tala remain unutilized. Meanwhile, similar food street concepts have flourished in major cities across Europe and America, where designated locations serve as bustling culinary hubs. The Narendra Modi-led government introduced this initiative to replicate that success in India, with Kolkata among the selected cities. However, without a resolution on stall management, the vision of vibrant, organized food streets in Kolkata remains unrealized.

Local stakeholders and food lovers await swift intervention and a decisive resolution to prevent further wastage of resources and to bring Kolkata’s food streets to life as originally envisioned.