Lakhanpur in Kathua Selected for Development as World-Class Street Food Hub Under PM SVANidhi Scheme

KATHUA, JULY 11 :- In a significant boost to local tourism and urban livelihoods, Lakhanpur—the entry point town on the Punjab-Jammu & Kashmir border—has been selected by the Government of India to be developed as a world-class “Street Food Hub.”

Announcing the update on X, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh shared that Lakhanpur is among 50 towns chosen nationwide for the first phase of this national-level initiative by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. Designed to promote local culinary heritage while ensuring a dignified livelihood for street vendors, the project will provide financial assistance and additional incentives under the PM SVANidhi scheme’s Street Vending Plan.

The proposed Street Food Hub at Lakhanpur Market will feature two distinct clusters: one located near the old bus stand and the other near the Sales Tax Office. Historically known as the gateway to Jammu & Kashmir, Lakhanpur experiences a consistently high footfall of tourists, pilgrims, and transit travelers. This modern upgrade is expected to significantly enhance the popularity of the highway stop-over.

Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Jitendra Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritizing Jammu & Kashmir, which enabled the strategic inclusion of Lakhanpur in the initial rollout of the developmental plan.