A mini food street has been inaugurated at the newly constructed underpass connecting Clock Tower to A B Shetty Circle in Mangaluru. The underpass, part of the Smart City project, offers convenient access for travelers between Lady Goshen Hospital and Mangaluru Central railway station. The project also includes the adjacent Gandhi Park and an open-air theatre, all built at a cost of Rs eight crore.
The food street features 16 stalls selling a variety of items such as tea, coffee, snacks, sugarcane juice, pani puri, ice cream, omelettes, sweet corn, mobile recharge services, footwear, and readymade garments. Currently, eight stalls have begun operations. The stalls are open from 5:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., with shop owners paying an advance of Rs one lac and a monthly rent of Rs 15,000.
However, some challenges have emerged. Krishna Attavara, a tea stall owner, expressed concerns about the high rent and rodent issues within the underpass. Each stall is required to offer unique products, with a focus on cleanliness and quality home-made snacks as per the Smart City guidelines.
Despite the well-designed open-air theatre, no events have been held there yet. Shop owners are optimistic that hosting cultural programmes on weekends could attract more visitors and boost business. They are even planning to organize their own events to increase foot traffic and revenue.
Read More: