Safe Street Zone Project to make street food hygienic

12 March, 2013

Street foods are popular all over India and when it comes to Gujarat nothing beats the cuisine served at eateries in Manek Chowk, Law Garden, and Kankariya in Ahmedabad. The drawback, however, has always been the cleanliness issue. But thanks to Safe Street Zone Project - a government of India proposal - hygiene will be a priority of all street eateries across India.

The Chief Medical Officer of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), S P Kulkarni told this citizen journalist : “The government of India sent a proposal to start the Safe Street Zone Project to AMC. Six cities were selected, and Ahmedabad is one of the cities. Many people love street food and also depend on it. These people also should be getting hygenic food.”

This project, if successful, will play an important role in helping people get clean and tasty street food. There is a huge demand of street food in many other parts of the country, but Gujarat is known for its food items such as Khakra, Dhokla, fafda (gram flour based fried snacks), apart from other regular street foods such as pav-bhaji, paani-puris, sev puris, dal vada etc.

Around 25,000 laaris (food carts) cater to thousands of food lovers across the city. The AMC is said to receive Rs 5 crore to help develop such food zones. The AMC is looking into bettering the quality of foods available along with proper hygiene.

Kulkarni said, “There are three aspects that we are going to look into- quality of food, personal hygiene and basic infrastructure.” The AMC will check the sample of the raw materials used and if it finds them below standard, then it will ask owners to replace it. “The vendors will be asked to use aprons, disposable gloves. They will also be taught about hygiene practices. Proper dust-bins will be installed. Even if there are no water and drainage facilities, the AMC will look into it,” added Kulkarni.

These vendors would also be trained on food safety, personal hygiene along with storing and disposing of food. The AMC will look into the hygiene part of the plan with utmost care along with various other things.

When a resident of Gujarat, Vrijesh Kasera was informed about the step taken for better hygiene, he was pleased. “It is a very good initiative because the Gujaratis are foodies, love street food and it will now also ensure health safety. I believe it should also be modeled in other parts of the country as well,” Kasera said.