Public Outcry Over Quiet Closure of CITCO’s ‘The Chef-17’ at ISBT Sector 17, Chandigarh
Chandigarh, May 29, 2025 — A well-known and affordable eatery at Chandigarh’s main bus terminal, ‘The Chef-17’, has been shut down without any public announcement or explanation, sparking concerns over lack of transparency and potential misuse of public institutions.
In a formal letter addressed to the Governor of Punjab-cum-Administrator, Union Territory Chandigarh, RTI activist Dr. Rajinder K. Singla has raised serious objections to the covert discontinuation of the decades-old CITCO-run restaurant at ISBT Sector 17. Dr. Singla has demanded an urgent inquiry into what he describes as a “systematic and secretive dismantling” of a key public-serving facility.
“For over 40 years, ‘The Chef-17’ served as a vital and affordable food outlet for commuters and the general public,” the letter states. “Its abrupt closure — without public consultation or official disclosure — reeks of deliberate sabotage by vested interests within CITCO.”
According to Dr. Singla, CITCO’s Board of Directors passed a resolution (No. 225.8) on March 28, 2025, to shut down operations of both ‘The Chef-17’ and the adjoining Transit Lodge, handing over the premises to the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU). However, the decision was never publicly communicated, raising questions about transparency and accountability.
Highlighting broader concerns, Dr. Singla points out that while Chandigarh aspires to become a Smart City with massive public investment, some UT officials appear to be undermining public welfare in favor of bureaucratic and potentially commercial interests. “It is shocking that smaller canteens in government secretariats — often subsidized or extended on credit to officials — continue to run despite incurring higher losses, while a restaurant catering to the public is quietly shut down,” he wrote.
He also flagged the possibility of collusion between CITCO and CTU officials, hinting at a broader privatization agenda. “There is a reasonable suspicion of financial inducements and backdoor deals to hand over public assets to private profiteers,” the letter warns.
Dr. Singla has filed a Right to Information (RTI) request (No. 1754-A dated May 12, 2025) to obtain all relevant records related to the closure. However, he fears that the process may be delayed until the decision becomes irreversible. He urged the Governor’s immediate intervention to halt the “arbitrary and opaque move” before public interest is further compromised.
The letter has also been copied to top offices, including the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Home Affairs, Adviser to the Administrator, Chief Secretary, Director General of Audit (Central), Finance Department, and CITCO officials.
Public reactions on social media have begun surfacing as awareness spreads, with several citizens expressing dismay over the disappearance of one of the few affordable food options at the city’s busiest transit hub.
The controversy surrounding ‘The Chef-17’ could soon become a touchstone for broader debates about public accountability, privatization, and the direction of urban development in Chandigarh.
