Roadside stalls multiply in Tiruchi as food street project gets delayed

Roadside stalls continue to proliferate in Tiruchi as work on the proposed Healthy and Hygienic Food Street (HHFS) project in Khajamalai drags on.

The food street project was launched in early September under the direction of Tiruchi District Collector Pratik Tayal, the Corporation and the Food Safety Department and envisaged the setting up of 40 food vendor carts at a designated spot on the Race Course Road, by the end of the month.

However, the inauguration of the food street has been postponed until October end tentatively for “administrative reasons”, as per an official source.

Meanwhile, hawker stalls are thriving in other parts of the city and have emerged as a major cause of traffic congestion in areas such as Cantonment, Thillai Nagar, and Railway Junction.

“Many professionals and students who commute between Tiruchi and nearby villages rely on roadside vendors for their daily meals. However, of late, perhaps encouraged by social media exposure, we are seeing a rise in the number of stalls selling exotic snacks and desserts out on the street. You can get fried chicken, waffles, momos, and even high-end ice-creams at food trucks and hawker stalls. There is a real risk of the food getting contaminated by dust or fuel fumes when it is served on the roads. The authorities should stipulate that the food is prepared and served in a hygienic manner, from properly covered live kitchens,” said a long-time resident.

With some hawkers adding makeshift seating arrangements to their stalls, Tiruchi’s main roads are getting harder to navigate, said commuters.