The proposed mega food court on the vastly spread Padmavati Ghat downstream of Krishna river will have an array of food outlets, recreational facilities and even a mini brewery.
As part of the river front tourism promotion, the government had announced setting up of a food court at Padmavati Ghat during Krishna Pushkaralu more than a year ago.
The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation recently invited proposals from interested operators who should take up entire responsibility of the food court, including construction, maintenance, marketing and managing.
According to the draft agreement of VMC’s Request for Proposal (RFP) issued recently, the operator should create recreational facilities, including boating with pedal or motorised boats, children play area, walking track along the river with landscaping and LED display.
The main food court will have at least 10 national and international fast food and restaurant chain outlets like Subway, KFC, Pizzahut, Dominos, CCD, Barista, Mc Donald’s and equivalent others.
Besides the operator should also establish stalls for mehendi , scary house, tattoos and others to attract visitors.
The stretch of Padmavati Ghat, the bathing canal alongside the ghat and the nearby portion of riverbed pave way for all the facilities and stalls to be set up.
“The Ghat will have food court, cultural arena, walking track and others. The project may materialise in about three months,” Municipal Commissioner Mr. J. Nivas said earlier.
Mini brewery?
On the other hand, the draft agreement also specifies that the operator has to construct a mini brewery at the project site. Mini brewery is a facility where beer is made on spot in brewing machines and sold in loose and smaller quantities.
In contrast, the agreement also specifies that of sale of liquor products at the food court is prohibited.
According to the state’s Bar Policy 2017-22 bar licences will be granted to micro breweries as certified by the Tourism department for establishment at tourism centres.
“Broadly beer comes under liquor category. Specifically with respect to technicality both are seen separately. However, the brewery operator would be given a bar licence as per the state’s liquor policy,” said K. Venkateswar Rao, Director, Excise and Prohibition (Enforcement), when contacted.
The food court project is an initiative of Toursim department and the local body.
