Coming up: Canteen for cops

KOCHI:  In line with the one launched recently in Thiruvananthapuram, a police canteen will be set up in the district within a month. The canteen that will come up at Tripunithura Armed Reserve Camp will benefit more than  2,000 police personnel in the Ernakulam Range.According to the police sources, the canteen will function like the Canteen Stores Department (CDS) run by the paramilitary forces which provide goods  at reduced price. “We have approached the Naval officials seeking supply of goods at reduced price. If we don’t strike the deal with Navy, then we will approach other  paramilitary forces. Goods for the Thiruvananthapuram Canteen are being supplied by the Pallippuram CRPF canteen. We will get goods for Kochi canteen from the same source,” a police official said.According to a higher official, more than 2,000  policemen will get household goods at a reduced price. “We are planing to provide the service to all the policemen in the Ernakulam range. Card will be provided for all police personnel. They can avail of the product only after showing their canteen cards. The prices will be less than the market price and some products will be sold at 40 percent discount price. Liquor and high-end products like cars and bikes will not be supplied through the canteen,” an official said.The work on the canteen is currently going on and three barracks have been  evicted for the purpose. “The work  has already begun and the canteen will start functioning within a month. Work on a similar canteen in Kollam range is going on. The canteen in Ernakulam will be second or the third one in the state,” the police official said.