(Top) The Ravenshaw University canteen and (below) students enjoy a meal at the facility. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 17: Ravenshaw University students now have an official hangout zone on campus. A new canteen set up by retail restaurant chain Vithal Kamat’s, is luring not only those experiencing hunger pangs, but also banter groups and geeks alike.

Be it waiting in between lectures, celebrating friends’ birthdays or finishing up projects and assignments, the canteen — the first on the university campus — seems to be the coolest chillout zone for the youngsters.

“The canteen was one of our longstanding demands which has now been fulfilled and is the hotspot for most of us. I can sit and chat with my friends here without moving out of campus,” said Soumen Subabrata, a student, guzzling down a glassful of chilled lassi.

Earlier, the students had to depend on roadside eateries, coffee shops or restaurants for snacks and lunch. But now, a host of finger-licking dishes on the menu of the vegetarian restaurant-cum-canteen is appeasing the taste buds of hordes of young girls and boys. The price ranges from Rs 20 to Rs 50.

University registrar Smarapriya Mishra said: “The canteen has come to the rescue of hundreds of students who can have healthy and hygienic food on campus.”

Dosa, idli-sambar, batata vada and pav bhaji were the most preferred items by the students, said unit manager of Vithal Kamat’s Bibhuti Bhusan Pradhan.

“We make an average business of Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 everyday. We also take great care to ensure hygiene,” he said.

At present, 20-odd students can sit and have food at the canteen at a time and there are plans for expansion in future so that at least 50 students can be accommodated at one time. Small or big, when it comes to hanging out with friends, the size of the den does not matter.

“Though it is not a very big canteen, it is our zone. We can just laze around here, play games, chat or study while munching on something,” said Shivangi, a student of English. The canteen has also come as a saving grace for the girl students, who stay in the university hostels. “Earlier, we had to go as far as College Square or Ranihat for our breakfast and evening snacks which was causing a great deal of inconvenience. The canteen has solved that problem,” said Mudra Ghose, a BCom student.

The teachers and staff members of Ravenshaw also have their share of fun at the canteen.

“Earlier, there was no scope for having a cup of tea with other colleagues and we used to go out of campus during breaks. Now we can spend some time in canteen after classes for refreshments,” said political science professor Netaji Abhinandan.

Since exams have begun from Monday, the canteen, which, till now, overflowed with peppy talks and friendly banters, has become a relatively quieter place. “I have been meeting my friends here for the last few days to exchange notes and revise the lessons before and after exams,” said Sonali, another student.