Lakhanpur selected as street food hub, to be developed as gateway to J&K: Minister
Proposed Street Food Hub will be developed in two clusters — one near the old bus stand and the other near the Sales Tax Office
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday announced that Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir, will be developed into an attractive entry point with a unique monument and beautification works at an estimated cost of over Rs 1.5 crore.
He said the project estimate has already been prepared and funds will be mobilised through the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and other available resources.
The announcement came during his visit to Lakhanpur following the Government of India’s decision to include the town among 50 locations across the country to be developed as ‘Street Food Hubs’ under the PM SVANidhi initiative.
Dr Singh said the BJP-led Central Government has consistently prioritised welfare-oriented development over vote-oriented politics. He said several long-pending projects that had remained neglected before 2014 had been revived and implemented with renewed commitment under the present dispensation.
Highlighting the significance of the PM SVANidhi scheme, the Union Minister said it was the first dedicated government initiative aimed at the welfare of street vendors.
He said street vendors had remained outside the policy focus of successive governments, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision brought the neglected section into the mainstream through schemes providing dignity, financial support and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Dr Singh said Lakhanpur’s selection in the first phase of the Street Food Hub initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to empowering small vendors while creating organised, hygienic and visitor-friendly vending spaces.
He said the Ministry had received 126 proposals from 32 States and Union Territories, covering 106 Urban Local Bodies and seven Census Towns. The proposed Street Food Hub at Lakhanpur will be developed in two clusters — one near the old bus stand and the other near the Sales Tax Office.
Strategically located on the Pathankot-Jammu highway, Lakhanpur witnesses heavy movement of tourists, pilgrims and other transit travellers throughout the day. Spread over 1,754.25 square metres, the hub will provide modern vending infrastructure while promoting Dogra cuisine and other local culinary traditions in a clean, organised and visitor-friendly environment.
Dr Singh said the project has been planned with local welfare at its core, adding that even the tendering process has been designed to maximise benefits for local residents. The hubs will showcase Dogra cuisine and other regional delicacies, strengthen local entrepreneurship and transform Lakhanpur from merely a transit point into a recognised culinary destination.
