Published: 10 July 2026Press Information BureauGovernance
Lakhanpur Among First Towns Approved for a 'Street Food Hub' Under PM SVANidhi
On 11 July 2026, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, disclosed the Government's approval for a "Street Food Hub" at Lakhanpur in Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir, under PM SVANidhi. Lakhanpur, in the Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency, is among the towns cleared in the first batch.
The initiative aims to develop organised, hygienic and world-class vending spaces that celebrate India's culinary heritage while creating dignified, sustainable livelihoods for street vendors.
Under PM SVANidhi, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs proposes up to 50 Street Food Hubs across the country. Preference goes to cities and towns with high tourism potential, cultural and heritage significance, distinctive local food traditions, and convergence with Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and UNESCO Creative Cities. Each approved project receives Rs 4 crore in three instalments: 30 per cent as the first, 50 per cent as the second, and the remaining 20 per cent after completion. Cities that have notified their Street Vending Plan receive an additional incentive of Rs 25 lakh.
Technical support flows through Centres of Excellence for Urban Planning and AMRUT-funded Centres of Planning under the Ministry, which follows a Whole-of-Government approach with the Ministry of Tourism and FSSAI. The Ministry received 126 proposals from 32 States and Union Territories, covering 106 Urban Local Bodies and seven Census Towns.
The Lakhanpur hub will span 1,754.25 square metres across two clusters in Lakhanpur Market, promoting Dogra cuisine. At the gateway to Jammu & Kashmir from Pathankot and on the route to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, it gains added significance during the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, serving pilgrims, tourists and travellers entering the Union Territory.
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Practice MCQ from this story
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Linked questionMedium
With reference to the 'Street Food Hub' initiative under PM SVANidhi, consider the following statements:
1. The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs proposes to establish up to 50 Street Food Hubs across the country.
2. Each approved Street Food Hub project receives financial assistance of Rs 4 crore, released in two equal instalments.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation · Correct answer AStatement 1 is correct: under PM SVANidhi, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs proposes to establish up to 50 Street Food Hubs across the country. Statement 2 is incorrect: the financial assistance of Rs 4 crore per approved project is released in three instalments, not two equal ones — 30 per cent as the first instalment, 50 per cent as the second and the remaining 20 per cent after completion. Since only statement 1 holds, the answer is '1 only'. Options B and D are wrong because they reject the correct statement 1, and option C is wrong because it accepts the faulty instalment structure in statement 2.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Street Food Hub initiative under PM SVANidhi?
It is an initiative under which the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs proposes to establish up to 50 Street Food Hubs across the country, developing organised, hygienic and world-class vending spaces that celebrate India's culinary heritage while creating dignified and sustainable livelihoods for street vendors.
How much financial assistance does each approved Street Food Hub receive, and how is it released?
Each approved project receives Rs 4 crore, released in three instalments: 30 per cent as the first instalment, 50 per cent as the second, and the remaining 20 per cent after completion. Cities that have notified their Street Vending Plan receive an additional incentive of Rs 25 lakh.
Why is the Lakhanpur approval significant?
Lakhanpur, in Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir, is among the towns approved in the very first batch. It sits at the gateway to Jammu & Kashmir from Pathankot and on the route to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, so during the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra the hub will serve pilgrims, tourists and travellers entering the Union Territory.
Which criteria guide the selection of cities for Street Food Hubs?
Preference is given to cities and towns with high tourism potential, cultural and heritage significance, distinctive local food traditions, and convergence with initiatives such as Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and UNESCO Creative Cities.
How many proposals did the Ministry receive for Street Food Hubs?
The Ministry received 126 proposals from 32 States and Union Territories, covering 106 Urban Local Bodies and seven Census Towns.
