J&K’s Lakhanpur selected under PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub; ₹4-crore project to boost livelihoods

Ziraat Times News Desk

Jammu, July 11: Lakhanpur in Kathua district has been selected among the first towns in the country for the establishment of a Street Food Hub under the Centre’s PM SVANidhi initiative, a move aimed at promoting organised street vending, local cuisine, tourism and livelihoods.

The project, approved by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is part of a nationwide plan to establish up to 50 Street Food Hubs in cities and towns with strong tourism potential, cultural significance and distinctive culinary traditions.

Lakhanpur’s proposed Street Food Hub will be developed across two clusters in the town’s main market—near the Old Bus Stand and the Sales Tax Office. Spread over 1,754.25 square metres, the facility will provide modern vending infrastructure while showcasing Dogra cuisine and other regional food traditions in a hygienic and visitor-friendly setting.

Situated at the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir from Pathankot and on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, Lakhanpur witnesses heavy movement of tourists, pilgrims and transit travellers. The project is expected to transform the town from a transit point into a culinary destination, improving visitor experience while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local street vendors and small entrepreneurs.

Under the PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub initiative, each approved project will receive Central financial assistance of ₹4 crore, to be released in three instalments. Urban local bodies that have notified their Street Vending Plan will also be eligible for an incentive of ₹25 lakh.

The initiative seeks to create organised, hygienic and world-class vending spaces while preserving India’s diverse culinary heritage. It is being implemented through convergence between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), with technical support from urban planning institutions.

According to the Ministry, 126 proposals were received from 32 States and Union Territories, covering 106 Urban Local Bodies and seven Census Towns, from which the first batch of projects has been approved.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh welcomed Lakhanpur’s inclusion in the first batch of approved towns. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for according priority to Jammu and Kashmir’s development and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for expediting Lakhanpur’s proposal and approving it in the first round of selections.