If the BMC has its way, you won’t have to wait for the annual Versova Koliwada festival to dig into bharlela paplet. Earlier this month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) approved a proposal to deploy two food trucks in Cuffe Parade’s Machhimar Nagar, in a bid to offer the Koli community the chance to earn revenue and showcase their indigenous cuisine. A budget of Rs 33 lakh has been reserved by the District Planning Development Committee. Tenders will be floated this month and once the contractor is finalised, the trucks are expected to be custom-made. 

“Only Koli cuisine will be served and we expect this to generate employment for the fishermen. This is also the reason why we have selected the Machhimar Nagar area. It’s where the Kolis live and work. It will take another two months for the food trucks to come on the road, ready to serve,” Shivdas Gurav, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, A-ward, told mid-day. In 2021, BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal had also asked for a formulation of a comprehensive food truck policy. Fifty sites have been identified across 24 wards where various mobile eateries will be stationed.