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Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday inaugurated an Atal Canteen at Lajpat Nagar, formally rolling out the
scheme on the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The initiative, a key promise in the BJP’s Delhi election manifesto, aims to provide subsidised meals at Rs 5 to the city’s working poor, with the Delhi government planning to set up 100 Atal Canteens across the national capital in phases.
Atal Canteen: Locations, Timings, Menu
In the first phase, 45 Atal Canteens have begun operations across multiple areas, including RK Puram, Jangpura, Shalimar Bagh, Greater Kailash, Rajouri Garden, Narela and Bawana. The remaining 55 canteens are expected to be inaugurated in the coming days.Each canteen will serve two meals daily — lunch from 11 am to 4 pm and dinner between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Officials said every centre is equipped to serve food to around 500 people per meal, catering primarily to daily wage workers and low-income families.
The standard menu includes dal and rice, roti and sabzi, offering simple but nutritious food.
‘Food With Dignity, Not Charity’
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the scheme is rooted in the belief that access to food should be treated as a matter of dignity rather than charity.“Atal Canteen will become the soul of Delhi, ensuring that no one sleeps hungry,” she said, invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s belief that poverty is not just about lack of money but also lack of opportunity.
“This is not charity; it is about fairness. Those who build the city should not have to skip meals to survive in it,” Gupta added.
Digital Tokens, CCTV Oversight Planned
Meal distribution will be managed through a digital token system to prevent irregularities, replacing manual coupons. All centres are equipped with CCTV cameras, with real-time monitoring to be conducted via the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board’s digital platform.
The kitchens will use LPG-based stoves, along with industrial RO water systems and cold storage facilities. Food samples will undergo regular testing at FSSAI and NABL-accredited laboratories, while operators must submit monthly reports on hygiene, staff health and safety compliance.
Once the initial rollout stabilises, the Delhi government plans to expand the Atal Canteen network further, based on public response and feedback.
