The landmark Gandhi Maidan in Patna will soon have a food court on wheels.

Sri Krishna Smarak Vikas Samiti that looks after the ground has decided to earmark 3,600sqft space in the Maidan's eastern part - in front of Udyog Bhavan, stretching up to the front of Kargil Chowk between gate numbers five and seven - for the food stop.

Tenders have been floated to set up this facility and the bidding process would conclude on June 6, when the bid documents would be opened and the highest bidder meeting the requirements would be awarded the work.

"The bidder offering the highest rent for using the space would be awarded the space to set up the food court," Patna divisional commissioner Anand Kishor, who heads the Samiti for the 61-acre ground, told The Telegraph. "The idea occurred to me because there is no proper food joint in the Maidan where people can savour hygienic food. They have to depend on street vendors."

The agency selected would have to develop the infrastructure for the food court, including kiosks and seating arrangements for residents. An estimated 5,000 people daily visit the Maidan, and the number goes up manifold in case of a programme or an event.

"We will ensure a variety of cuisines are offered at the food court," said Kishor. "Emphasis would be laid on setting up joints offering specialties of different states, including Bihar."

Keeping popular taste in mind, stalls of Chinese dishes would also be set up on the greens.

Apart from food, the agency would also be instructed to set up counters of fruit juice and other health drinks for morning walkers and visitors to the open gym.

Ashish Kumar, a resident of Bank Road, was happy at the sound of the food court. "I go to the Maidan for morning walks. If healthy drinks are available there, several morning walkers like me would enjoy the food court facility," he said.

The agency would have to select the vendors - one food kiosk takes up an estimated 300sqft space, so going by that calculation, at least 12 stalls can be set up. The "kiosks" at the portable food court would be vehicle-mounted, and the vendors would have to set them up and take them away every day.

Explaining the reason for a portable food court, Kishor said: "The beauty of Gandhi Maidan is in its openness, and having permanent structure of this dimension would adversely hit its beauty. The portable food court would give us the liberty to remove the structure when the Maidan would be required for other uses."

He said the administration would give the successful bidder a month's time to set up the facility, and so it could be expected that the food court will be up and about by end-June or the first fortnight of July. The bidder would also be asked to provide a temporary cover for the food court area, as it would open in middle of the monsoon season.

Homemaker Sudha Singh, a resident of Raja Bazaar, is also happy. "There is hardly a week when we do not cross the Gandhi Maidan during weekend outings," she said. "A food court on the greens of the Maidan would be an ideal joint to savour delicious food items in the company of family members."