The Ministry of Science & Technology announced Lakhanpur in Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir, has been selected among the first towns approved under the PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub initiative. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh disclosed the Government of India's approval for establishing a Street Food Hub at Lakhanpur, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritizing Jammu & Kashmir's development.
The initiative aims to develop organised, hygienic vending spaces celebrating India's culinary heritage while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for street vendors. Each approved project receives financial assistance of ₹4 crore, released in three instalments: 30% as first instalment, 50% as second, and remaining 20% after completion. Cities with notified Street Vending Plans receive an additional incentive of ₹25 lakh.
The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs received 126 proposals from 32 States and Union Territories, covering 106 Urban Local Bodies and seven Census Towns, with plans to establish up to 50 Street Food Hubs nationwide. Preference is given to locations with high tourism potential, cultural significance, distinctive local food traditions, and convergence with initiatives like Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, and UNESCO sites.
The Lakhanpur hub will be developed across two clusters in Lakhanpur Market—near the Old Bus Stand and near the Sales Tax Office—spanning 1,754.25 square metres. Strategically located at Jammu & Kashmir's gateway from Pathankot and on the route to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, the location experiences substantial tourist, pilgrim, and transit traffic. The project will promote Dogra cuisine and local culinary traditions in a clean, organised environment, transforming Lakhanpur from a transit point into a culinary destination.
The approval timing coincides with the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, with expected benefits for pilgrims, tourists, and local vendors. Technical support is provided through Centres of Excellence for Urban Planning and AMRUT-funded Centres, following a Whole-of-Government approach involving Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, and FSSAI.