New Delhi: Dedicated food truck hubs will cater to Delhiites by the end of the year with the city government nearing the finalisation of its food truck policy, according to details shared Tuesday by government officials.
Stating that an in-principle approval was given to the policy, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that the policy is aimed at boosting Delhi’s economy and employment opportunities as well as ensuring that residents are able to savour food during the late night hours.
दिल्ली में अर्थव्यवस्था एवं रोज़गार को बढ़ावा देने के लिए बहुत जल्द दिल्ली सरकार “Food Truck Policy” ला रही है जिसे आज एक बैठक के दौरान मंज़ूरी दी। इस योजना से दिल्लीवासियों को दिल्ली में देर रात भी लज़ीज़ भोजन उपलब्ध हो पाएगा, रोज़गार के अवसर भी बढ़ेंगे और अर्थव्यवस्था को भी… pic.twitter.com/66QTOJ4mny
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 13, 2023
The policy is in line with the government’s push to foster a night-time economy, which has remained a slow-starter despite a slew of measures over the past year. As recently as 6 June, the government gave approval to 155 establishments to operate round-the-clock.
Apart from finding mention in the Delhi government’s 2022-23 Budget, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia had also laid emphasis on the policy.
These hubs, according to a Delhi government official, will comprise multiple trucks that sell food and operate out of a dedicated location, while multiple such locations have been identified across the city.
According to the timeline, the policy will be finalised by 30 July, while it will be uploaded for public feedback by 15 August following which the suggestions will be incorporated before it is presented to the cabinet for its approval by 31 August. By 15 December, the food truck hubs are set to be inaugurated in Delhi.
Vasant Vihar, Rohini, Patel Chowk, Pitampura, Janakpuri, Saket, Vasant Kunj and IP Extension are among other areas identified for these hubs to operate from land parcels owned by government agencies such as the Delhi Transport and Tourism Development Corporation (DTTDC), the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Public Works Department (PWD).
Meetings with the land owning agencies will go on for a month-long period beginning 15 June, a Delhi government official said, adding that the thrust remains on making the city a “food truck capital” with a simultaneous focus on improving the night-time economy, while encouraging small business and startups to participate.
“We have identified locations but we will now hold discussions with stakeholders to finalise this,” the official said.
Among the permits and licences that remain easily available, the official noted, are those including health trade licence (issued by Municipal Corporation of Delhi), and shop and establishment licence (issued by labour department).
One of the bottlenecks identified is the permits required from the Delhi Police to operate businesses in the late night hours.
“We need the police approval for operating after 11 pm, and we will bring them on board in the further stages. Another bottleneck is that as only CNG-based trucks are allowed in Delhi, it will be a safety issue to cook in these vehicles. So we will ask the RTO (Regional Transport Office) to permit diesel vehicles, and we are working on this bottleneck,” the official said.
The revenue model includes allotting the land parcels to concessionaires through a competitive bidding process. The concessionaires will operate and maintain the food truck hubs and onboard individual food truck operators to establish and run their businesses within the concerned hub.
In a bid to encourage small businesses, a criteria to onboard a certain percentage of startups will be included in the tender document. “The minimum licence fee along with the profit-sharing model will be decided (upon) seeing the commercial potential of the respective areas,” according to the details provided.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: Why Delhi master plan-2041, which aims to make Capital 24/7 city & cut pollution, is hanging fire