KOCHI

The Kochi Corporation is exploring the possibility of developing a business model for running a cloud kitchen to supply food to new Indira Canteen units likely to be opened by other United Democratic Front-led local bodies in Ernakulam district.

Municipalities such as Thrikkakara and Kalamassery have already expressed interest and sought details about Indira Canteen, a budget eatery initiated by the UDF governing committee upon assuming charge. Kollam Corporation is also preparing to launch an Indira Canteen.

The Kochi Corporation inaugurated the Indira Canteen alongside its Edappally zonal office on March 14, with the aim of serving three meals a day for ₹50. At present, food served at Indira Canteen is supplied by the kitchen of Samridhi@Kochi, another budget eatery started by the Corporation in association with the Kudumbashree Mission during the tenure of the previous Left Democratic Front council more than four years ago.

“We plan to set up a central kitchen in Edappally to cater to both Samridhi and Indira Canteen. The idea is to turn it into a cloud kitchen of sorts for supplying food to newly established Indira Canteens. Outsourcing food supply to catering units would undermine the purpose of serving affordable meals. It will provide jobs to more Kudumbashree members while also serving as a revenue stream for Kochi Corporation,” said Mayor V.K. Minimol.

Meanwhile, Indira Canteen, which is nearing two months of operation, has reportedly proved viable through cross-subsidy. The loss of around ₹8 lakh from serving budget meals has been offset through the sale of value-added products and specials. “We, however, are determined to further bridge that gap by mobilising resources through corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds. We also plan to approach the new UDF State Government seeking a subsidy similar to that extended to Janakeeya hotels by the previous government, which was later discontinued,” Ms. Minimol added.

Since its inception, Indira Canteen has served 25,000 sets of idlis, 17,000 sets of porridge, and 32,000 sets of chapatis. Idlis and chapatis are priced at ₹10 each against their actual costs of ₹25 and ₹30 respectively, while porridge is sold at ₹30, subsidised by ₹15. The canteen was established using CSR funds of over ₹16 lakh provided by IDBI Bank and an additional ₹50,000 donated by an individual.

“The next Indira Canteen will be launched in Mattancherry. We are also receiving requests from places like Vyttila Hub, the boat jetty, and the KSRTC stand. However, new units will be considered only after monitoring the operations of the maiden canteen for three months,” said Ms. Minimol.