Kurnool: Aiming to provide affordable and quality food to people across the state, the government is set to launch 12 new Anna Canteens across Kurnool and Nandyal districts on Thursday. The state will open four Anna Canteens in Kurnool city, two in Nandyal, three in Adoni, two in Yemmiganur, and one in Gudur. This move is part of an initiative to reopen 75 canteens across the state, with 12 allocated to the combined Kurnool district. Officials have already visited the proposed locations, finalized them, and are now preparing to open the canteens under the government’s directive.
In Kurnool city, officials have identified strategic spots such as the old bus stand area, the collectorate, the government hospital, SETKUR office, and Parimala Nagar for the new canteens. Of these, four canteens are being set up at the collectorate, Kondareddy Buruju, Ballari Chowrasta, and SETKUR office to cater to the needs of daily wage earners and small traders.
The Telugu Desam (TD) government launched the Anna Canteens in 2018 to provide low-cost meals to the general public. A total of 17 canteens were established across five municipalities in the combined Kurnool district, including eight in Kurnool city, three in Nandyal, three in Adoni, two in Yemmiganur, and one in Dhone. These canteens were strategically located in public areas such as bus stands, railway stations, and Rythu Bazaars, offering affordable meals to economically disadvantaged communities.
The canteens became extremely popular due to their low-cost meals, offering breakfast and lunch for just Rs 5. However, after the change of government in 2019, all canteens were closed in July, leaving many without access to affordable food. Despite protests led by TDP leaders, the initiative was not revived until the recent decision to reopen them. The current government, in line with its alliance partners, is now fulfilling its promise to gradually reopen the canteens based on local needs.
