Lakhanpur in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district has been selected among the first towns in the country for the development of a Street Food Hub under the Centre’s PM SVANidhi initiative, with Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh saying the project will boost tourism, improve livelihoods and enhance facilities for pilgrims and travellers.
Announcing the approval on Saturday, Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for according high priority to the development of Jammu and Kashmir and said Lakhanpur’s inclusion in the first batch of approved projects reflects the Centre’s continued focus on strengthening infrastructure and economic opportunities in the Union Territory.
The Minister said the decision comes at an opportune time as the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is witnessing heavy pilgrim movement. He noted that the proposed facility would improve services for pilgrims, tourists and other travellers entering Jammu and Kashmir through Lakhanpur.
Singh also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for expediting the proposal and approving Lakhanpur in the first batch of Street Food Hubs. Representing the Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency, he said sustained efforts had been made to secure early approval so that local street vendors and small entrepreneurs could benefit from the initiative.
The PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub initiative aims to create organised, hygienic and modern vending spaces that showcase India’s diverse culinary traditions while providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for street vendors. The programme seeks to transform prominent tourist destinations into vibrant food streets offering authentic regional cuisine in well-planned and visitor-friendly surroundings.
Under the scheme, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs plans to establish up to 50 Street Food Hubs across the country. Priority is being given to towns and cities with strong tourism potential, cultural and heritage significance, distinctive local cuisines and convergence with flagship initiatives such as Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and UNESCO Creative Cities.
Each approved project will receive financial assistance of ₹4 crore, to be released in three instalments – 30 per cent initially, 50 per cent during implementation and the remaining 20 per cent after completion. Urban local bodies that have notified their Street Vending Plan will also receive an incentive of ₹25 lakh.
The initiative is being implemented through coordinated efforts of 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 Centres of Excellence for Urban Planning and AMRUT-funded planning centres.
According to the Ministry, 126 proposals were received from 32 States and Union Territories, covering 106 Urban Local Bodies and seven Census Towns.
The Lakhanpur Street Food Hub will be developed across two clusters in Lakhanpur Market – one near the Old Bus Stand and another near the Sales Tax Office. Located at the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir from Pathankot and on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, Lakhanpur witnesses significant movement of pilgrims, tourists and transit travellers throughout the year.
Spread over 1,754.25 square metres, the hub will feature modern vending infrastructure while promoting Dogra cuisine and other regional culinary traditions in a clean and organised setting. The project is expected to transform Lakhanpur from a transit point into a culinary destination, while creating livelihood opportunities for local vendors, encouraging entrepreneurship and strengthening the region’s tourism economy.
