Amid constraints, tender out for coffee shop at Student Centre
Even as the Panjab University has placed a complete ban on outsiders’ entry on the campus, a fresh tender has been floated to revive the Indian Coffee House — which was the ‘most sought after place’ for non-students coming to the university.
Besides catering to campus students, the existing shops at the Student Centre run their business by serving outsiders as well. With a complete ban on outsiders, these shops have faced a little jolt. However, as per agreement, they are bound to follow the university rules.
On April 8, the university floated a tender for allotting various shops in Sectors 14 and 25. However, the most important tender was the one for shop No. 11 (previously known as Indian Coffee House) at the Student Centre, which has remained closed since the start of 2025. With a reserve price of Rs 50,000, the university has framed a rule that the lessee should have three-year experience along with an FSSAI licence in the same trade, and should be registered under EPF/ESI with an average annual turnover of Rs 1.5 crore during the last three financial years. The shop has the highest reserved price.
“Last time, it (shop No. 11) closed down due to high rent and low income. This time, the authorities are pretty strict about the entry of outsiders, which has already hit our business. In such a case, the successful running of this shop will depend upon the footfall on the campus,” said an official.
“The only advantage this shop has is saving the customers from the sun during summer. However, with the PUCSC elections and winter season ahead, it will be difficult to make profit. We have to wait for the final phase of the allotment,” the official added. The ban on entry of outsiders, high rent and low income are not the only concern as the university has made it mandatory for the lessee to provide good quality food, which must be hygienic, or face penalty for any violation.
“The university has the right to inspect the kitchen area any time. Any such violation will attract a penalty of Rs 2,000 each time. For each sale of item, the lessee shall mandatorily give a computer-generated receipt/bill in duplicate to the customer so as to enable him/her to retain one copy showing the details of the item and the rates and other copy showing the detail of item ordered by him/her to get the delivery of the item ordered,” reads the tender.
The coffee house, which opened in 1975, was shut in June 2019 due to less footfall and rising losses. After its closure, an attempt was made to restart the eatery in 2020. It was auctioned for Rs 1.03 lakh per month, but the plan did not materialise amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The non-entry of outsiders has affected our business to a great extent. We are yet to calculate how much this will affect the business,” said a shopkeeper.
Chandigarh