Food court set up at pedestrian underpass near Town Hall

Mangaluru: With a view to prevent illegal activities and provide a safe space for people to move around, the pedestrian underpass near the Town Hall, constructed by Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL), now has a food court.
Four out of ten counters at the food court have recently become operational. This underpass, located near the Clock Tower, was constructed under the Smart City Mission by MSCL, and inaugurated about two years ago.
Rajesh, managing director of Kavitharaj Infratech Private Limited, which is responsible for maintaining the underpass, said that his company won the tender from MSCL for maintaining both Rajaji Park and the underpass. "The process of setting up 10 shops is currently under way. We won the tender about eight months ago, but there was a delay in the absence of an STP plant, which we eventually had to set up," he said.
He said that tenders were called about two years ago, and that he had submitted a proposal outlining how revenue could be generated from this MSCL project. However, he noted that the current expenses for park maintenance and security are high.
Regarding the food court, Rajesh said, "We aim to make this food court unique, drawing inspiration from the food street in Gokulam, Mysuru. Our concept is that each vendor should offer something different to customers. While we have received many enquiries, most are from people wanting to sell a wide range of items. However, we are committed to ensuring that each counter offers distinct products, with no repetition across vendors. This approach is intended to guarantee that all vendors receive a fair share of business."
He acknowledged the challenge of limited ventilation in the underpass, which has led to a ban on the use of gas stoves. Only electric cookers and other electrical appliances are permitted. According to an official, the pedestrian plaza near Clock Tower Circle is one of the challenging projects undertaken under the Smart City proposal by MSCL.