Sanu Kapali, who runs a food stall at Bagbazaar, is benefiting a lot from this change in people´s food culture. “I quitted my profession after my stall started generating handsome returns for me,” Kapali, who has worked in different Nepali movies, told Republica. “Now I am enjoying better life with this profession.”[break]
Kapali entered the business starting a momo stall at Bagbazaar about nine years ago. Then he used to earn about Rs 1,500 a day. “My daily turnover has now shot up to around Rs 7,000 a day. During winter, it climbs to about Rs 9,000 a day,” added Kapali.
He has been serving various vegetarian and non-vegetarian items priced between Rs 20 to and Rs 80 per item. “We serve more than 15 varieties of food,” Kapali, who was busy at his stall with other members of his family when Republica caught him last week, said. Around 300 customers visit his stall every evening.
Madhav Deula, a regular customer at Kapali´s stall, said he loves the food items offered at Kapali´s stall because they have typical Nepali taste.
Sagar Lama, who runs a food stall at Ratnapark, is also enjoying brisk business. “Burger, sausage and chhoila are the most popular food items at my stall. I earn about Rs 5,000 a day,” said Lama.
Ram Kunwar, who was enjoying sekuwa at Lama´s stall, said he loves Newari food items served at Lama´s stall.
Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) allows people to operate mobile food stalls in different part of the city till 10 p.m. But KMC officials do not have the exact number of mobile food stalls operating in the capital.
“There might be around 200-300 food stalls in Kathmandu,” Purna Chandra Bhatta, sub-inspector of KMC´s City Police, said, adding that Kalanki, Gongabu Bus Park, Basundhara, Dhumbarahi, Sukedhara, Koteshwar and Ratnapark are the major intersections popular among street vendors.
He, however, said KMC has prohibited vendors from operating stalls in core city areas like Sundhara, Jamal, New Road, Maharajgunj and New Baneshwar.
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