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Night market a hit, two more food hubs to come up in Prayagraj
Prayagraj plans new food hubs: a 40-kiosk facility on Lowther Road and a riverfront pavilion at Kali Ghat, inviting private operators for development.
Buoyed by the popularity of its night market, Prayagraj is planning two more organised food destinations — a 40-kiosk food hub at Lowther Road and a riverfront food pavilion at Kali Ghat along the Yamuna.
The Prayagraj Smart City Limited (PSCL) has invited private operators to develop and run the two facilities.
The Lowther Road facility, named “Swad Sangam”, is proposed along a nearly 215-metre stretch near the Medical College crossing. It will accommodate up to 40 specially designed food carts/kiosks, with multiple vendors to be onboarded by the selected operator.
Officials said the facility is intended to provide an organised public space with clean, safe and hygienic food options along the busy stretch.
The selected agency will have to install the kiosks within three months and operate and maintain the facility for five years. The concession may be extended by another three years, subject to satisfactory performance and PSCL approval.
The operator will also be responsible for cleanliness, lighting, waste management, safety and other basic visitor amenities. No structural or functional changes to the designated stretch will be allowed without the authority’s approval.
The tender for operating the Swad Sangam food zone has been floated, said a senior PSCL officer aware of the move.
The tender document has fixed a minimum annual lease rent of ₹30 lakh, excluding applicable taxes. Bidders will have to quote above the reserve amount.
Riverfront food pavilion at Kali Ghat
The PSCL has invited proposals for developing, operating and maintaining a riverfront food pavilion at Kali Ghat along the Yamuna under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The project envisages around 15 canopy structures, though their number may be increased or reduced depending on requirements and PSCL approval. The structures will house food kiosks, beverage counters and other approved commercial activities.
The facility is also planned as a leisure and recreational destination, with provisions for small-scale cultural activities, including musical performances, poetry events, stand-up shows, exhibitions and family entertainment.
The operator may also organise “Yamuna Aarti” and culinary activities, subject to requisite approvals, religious protocols, crowd-management arrangements and safety norms.
The initial concession period will be five years, with a possible three-year extension based on the concessionaire’s performance, officials said.
“It is the government’s priority to establish multiple vending zones so that street vending is properly regulated and organised. Accordingly, RFPs and tenders have been floated for the proposed vending zones. Our priority is to create clean, hygienic and well-managed vending spaces that benefit both vendors and the general public,” Sai Teja, CEO, PSCL and municipal commissioner, Prayagraj.
