Ever since the Pran Pratishtha event concluded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian & global companies have been heading to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh to open their outlet. Courtesy of the opening of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, small as big companies are heading to Uttar Pradesh's city as multiple reports suggest that it will become the spiritual capital of India. Not only this, many Indian as well as global studies have predicted that tourism in Ayodhya will increase by 200 percent in the coming years. Now, a discussion has sparked on whether KFC in Ayodhya will be allowed or not. American fast chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) which reportedly expressed its wish to open its outlet in Ayodhya is welcome in the Ram Nagri but with certain terms and conditions. Below is everything you need to know about KFC in Ayodhya or KFC in Ayodhya guidelines-
Guidelines that KFC will have to follow to open its outlet in Ayodhya
Ayodhya district magistrate Nitish Kumar was quoted saying that KFC is welcome in the city but it can only sell vegetarian items in the restricted zone. Interestingly, KFC is famous for its fried chicken items, and opening an outlet with a vegetarian-only menu can hamper its business. Therefore, Ayodhya DM further clarified that it can sell its non-vegetarian products outside the restricted zone, where serving liquor is also banned. For the unversed, the Ayodhya administration has banned the sale of liquor or non-vegetarian items within Panch Kosi Marg, which is a 15 km pilgrimage circuit around the Ram Temple area.
"All brands, including KFC, are welcome to open their outlets in Ayodhya. If they open their outlets in the area of Ayodhya where there is a ban on serving and selling of non-vegetarian items and liquor, then they will have to sell vegetarian items. There is no restriction in the rest of the area of Ayodhya," said Nitish Kumar as quoted by a newswire.
It is pertinent to mention here that a similar restriction is also in place in Haridwar in Uttarakhand. Thus, food chains like KFC serving meat items are situated outside the city limits on the Haridwar-Roorkee highway.
Furthermore, back in 2013, Subway not only opened an all-veg outlet in Ahmedabad but also offered Jain options. Prior to that, a report suggests that the US fast-food company opened its first all-veg outlet at a private university in Punjab.