Delhi Gets 25 New Atal Canteens, Taking City Total to 100

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated 25 Atal Canteens at an event at the Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station on Sunday, on the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The new additions take the total number of operational Atal Canteens in Delhi to 100, where meals are served twice daily for ₹5.

According to the Delhi government, each Atal Canteen aims to serve approximately 1,000 meals daily, comprising 500 lunches and 500 dinners. With 100 canteens now operational, more than one lakh people will receive meals across the city every day.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Gupta described the milestone of 100 Atal Canteens as a major achievement for the Delhi government. She stated that the initiative serves as a tribute to the spirit of Antyodaya and the ideals of public service upheld by Vajpayee, noting that the administration is working to ensure no needy person is deprived of nutritious food. She added that a canteen opened near the Delhi University metro station will help outstation students access affordable meals.

Former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu praised the expansion, calling the rollout of 100 canteens a commendable initiative designed to support the poor, slum dwellers, labourers, and people arriving in Delhi seeking employment. He remarked that the initiative serves as an example of service toward the most vulnerable sections of society.

The event was also attended by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, Education Minister Ashish Sood, and other officials.

Ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly election, the BJP had promised to set up Atal Canteens across slum clusters to provide nutritious meals for ₹5. The Delhi government noted that around 95 lakh subsidised meals have been served to the public through the scheme so far without any holiday.