Govt to start Atal canteens near slums and construction sites: Delhi CM

Reaffirming her government’s commitment to ensuring no one goes hungry in the capital, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Saturday that plans are underway to open 100 Atal canteens across the city, particularly near slum clusters and construction sites.

The announcement came as Gupta marked Hanuman Jayanti by paying homage at a temple in her Shalimar Bagh constituency, where she also inaugurated an automatic chapati maker capable of producing 1,200 rotis per hour.

“We must ensure no one in Delhi remains hungry,” Gupta said. “We are working on opening 100 Atal canteens near areas where the urban poor live and work, and installing such automated machines will help in providing fresh, hot meals efficiently.”

In her budget presentation for 2025–26, Gupta had allocated Rs 100 crore for the launch of these canteens, which aim to serve nutritious meals at nominal prices to the economically disadvantaged.

Named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Atal canteens are already operational in several other BJP-governed states.

Gupta highlighted that the new chapati machine at the Siddh Katyayani Devi Temple will support daily Anna Sewa, distributing food packets to the underprivileged. “This initiative is in line with the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas’ – collective effort for inclusive growth. As Prime Minister Modi says, when society progresses, the nation advances with it,” she added.

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The Chief Minister also offered prayers at the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple in Karol Bagh. “I prayed that negative forces retreat and positive energy inspires all of us to work for the betterment of Delhi,” she said.

Gupta concluded by reaffirming her government’s focus on building a healthier, better-educated, and more prosperous Delhi. “With the blessings of Lord Hanuman, we are determined to fulfil the aspirations of the people and move towards a ‘Viksit Delhi’.”

(With inputs from PTI)