Mumbai college canteens hike prices, not quality

Students eating in the university canteens on Vidyanagari campus at Kalina pay more than what the contractors agreed to charge. But the food is still poor in hygiene.

Some canteens on the campus were found to be charging more than the amount agreed  to between the contractors and the university. The extra money charged has not improved the food's hygiene, say students.

A Right to Information (RTI) query filed by MNS activist Santosh Ghotre gave details about the contracts that canteens at Savitribai Phule Girls' Hostel (old), Mahatma Jyotirao Phule (Exam House) and Karamveer Bhaurao Patil Boys' Hostel have signed with the University of Mumbai.

When DNA visited these canteens, it was seen that they were charging about Rs2 more from students and outsiders but serving poor quality of food.

"To bag the contracts, contractors quote minimal prices in their agreements with the university. But in trying to keep the prices low, they are compromising on quality. Now, they have increased the rates unofficially, but still no improvement is seen in the quality of the food," said Sainath Durge, vice-president, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena.

He said the varsity does not have any vigilance over the quality of food served in the canteens nor on the hygiene maintained. "Keeping pace with the rising prices, it is not possible to afford good quality at lesser price. Students will not mind paying more if the quality improves," Durge added.

Despite repeated attempts to contact him, university registrar Murlidhar Kurhade was unavailable for comment.