NEW DELHI: It is afternoon, and the people are streaming in the large hall. One by one they register themselves at the counter, get their token, slowly take their food thali to the table, and start eating. Scenes such as this are an everyday affair at Atal Canteens across the capital.
Earlier this week, Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched 70 Atal canteens across the capital, an initiative by the Delhi government to subsidize the food for the working-class people in the city. These canteens serve both lunch served between 11:30 am to 2 pm and dinner from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, and they provide a full thali for just 5 Rs consisting of rice, dal, roti, sabzi, and pickle.
To see the buzz of these canteens, TSG visited several of the Atal Canteens in Delhi to share the experience of the people availing themselves of service of these canteens. Mostly, there were working-class people, slum dwellers, including women and children and passersby.
At Atal Canteen Kalkaji, Shubhash Mandal, 31, who works as a pizza delivery boy in the capital, had finished his meal. “I really like the food and it’s amazing,” he said. “I have been coming here for a week now, and I can’t find any other place that provides food at such an affordable rate.”
On December 25, 2025, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday, the program was formally introduced. The Delhi government has set aside 104 crore to run, maintain, and oversee these canteens in order to guarantee their efficient operation. The effort aims to enhance nutritional outcomes and lessen hunger in metropolitan areas by offering affordable, high-quality meals.
Not only men, but also women and children can be spotted in these canteens. “Earlier it was hard for people like us to have a meal, but now this initiative has made it possible to have good food at such a low price,” said Sangeeta Devi, 29, a labourer working at a construction site nearby. She has been coming to Atal Canteen Kalkaji for a month now, and she is happy to have “two meals a day.” “Nowadays, even tobacco is expensive. Who could’ve thought we could get a meal at just 5 Rs?” she asked.
Earlier, there were long queues of people at these canteens, but they have receded now, partly because of the sudden rise in the temperatures in the capital. “Every day we serve around 500 people at lunch and around 1000 people in the evening for dinner,” said Arun Jha, who supervises the Atal Canteen in Kalkaji. “Mostly, they are rickshaw drivers, cart pullers, labourers, and industry workers.”
At another Atal Canteen in Ekta Vihar, RK Puram, the crowd kept surging. Bobby Chauhan, 43, who works as a mason, had been able to find a seat. It was his third visit to this canteen. “I came here because I work nearby and the food is affordable. Earlier I used to spend around 50 Rs on lunch, but now I have to only spend 5 Rs. It makes me happy. It is heaven for people like us,” he said while eating the food.
Most people frequenting these canteens praised the initiative, but there are people who complained of short timings and not having a proper menu. At Atal Canteen Pratap camp, Nehru Nagar, several people were left disappointed because the food had finished before the given time. Sukesh Kumar, 29, an auto driver, said that the “timings should be increased.” “It should run for longer hours, and the government should make sure there is food available for all,” he said.
