Brands
Eatsure bites Into Jammu with a smart foodcourt feast
Rebel Foods launches first Kashmir outpost uniting 10 plus brands in 2000 sq ft digital dining space.
MUMBAI: Jammu just got a whole lot tastier and a whole lot smarter as Eatsure rolled out its inaugural smart foodcourt, proving that even the hills can now order biryani, burgers and Frosty without breaking a sweat. Rebel Foods, the self-proclaimed largest internet restaurant company on the planet, has planted its offline flag in Jammu & Kashmir for the very first time. The new Eatsure smart foodcourt, tucked inside Royal Nest Sapphire, spans roughly 2000 sq ft and becomes the brand’s sixth offline store across India.
What makes it “smart”? Diners skip the old-school queues entirely. Orders flow through self-service kiosks or the Eatsure app, with real-time updates flashing on digital screens or pinging straight to WhatsApp when the food’s hot and ready. One bill, multiple brands, zero hassle, the future of food courts has officially arrived in the winter capital.
Under one roof, more than 10 trusted names are now on tap, Behrouz Biryani, Faasos, Wendy’s, Sweet Truth, Lunchbox, The Good Bowl, Honest Bowl, Makhani Darbar, Dabba & Co and several others. Craving a global burger tour? Wendy’s is dishing up everything from Argentinian Chimichurri and Korean Buldak to classic American BBQ, Tandoori and Nacho flavours. Fancy a biryani-burger combo with dessert on the side? One transaction covers it all.
The space seats over 50 people, turning it into a natural hangout for families, friends or anyone who wants to graze across cuisines without playing musical tables.
Rebel Foods co-founder and global CEO Ankush Grover called Jammu a “perfect blend of culture, tradition and modernity” and described the launch as a natural next step. “The feedback on our delivery brands here has been incredibly positive,” he said. “This foodcourt brings unmatched convenience, variety and a fully digital-first experience to a rapidly growing market for organised food services.”
EatSure’s smart foodcourts have already won fans in Pune, Visakhapatnam, Nashik and beyond. With Jammu now on the map, the brand is clearly hungry to roll out the format to more tier-1 and tier-2 cities nationwide.
For locals, it’s simple, beloved global QSR flavours have finally come home and they arrive faster, fresher and with far less faff than before. Who knew a food court could feel this futuristic?
Brands
Maharashtra revokes Ola, Uber, Rapido bike taxi licences
Temporary e-bike taxi permits cancelled as firms fail to meet state rules
MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s roads are set to see fewer zipping two-wheelers after the state government pulled the plug on provisional licences granted to bike taxi giants Ola, Uber and Rapido. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced in the Legislative Council on Monday that temporary permissions would be revoked.
“These companies were given permission for just a month and were required to submit certain documents. Since they have not complied, their temporary licences are cancelled. This is to ensure illegal bikes do not operate on our roads,” Sarnaik said.
The move follows the Maharashtra E Bike Taxi Rules 2024, designed to generate employment for local youth and offer commuters a cheaper, greener ride option. The rules, approved in August 2024, allow electric bike taxis in cities with over one lakh residents.
Under the policy, only electric vehicles can ply as taxis, and operators had 30 days to fulfil licensing and compliance requirements. Yet, officials claim many continued operations without meeting these conditions. Sarnaik added that a large number of bike taxis currently running in Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region are illegal.
In a firm enforcement twist, the government has instructed authorities to focus on vehicle owners rather than riders when registering cases. Safety concerns, particularly for women passengers, and accident complaints have also been flagged by the transport department.
Since April 2024, Regional Transport Offices have taken action against 130 non-compliant bike taxis, collecting fines exceeding Rs 33 lakh. Authorities say further measures will follow to ensure services adhere to regulations before returning to city streets.
Maharashtra’s bike taxi saga has been a rollercoaster. Initially banned in January 2023 due to concerns over private vehicles ferrying passengers, the sector was later formalised through an electric bike framework in 2024. Provisional licences were granted in 2025, but the government now warns that any bike taxi operating on city roads without proper permits will be considered illegal.
Adding to the transport shake-up, the government has also halted the issuance of new auto rickshaw permits from March 9 to ease urban traffic pressures and safeguard livelihoods of existing drivers. A fresh standard operating procedure for future permits is set to go before the state cabinet soon.
Maharashtra commuters may have to find alternative rides as the state reins in its two-wheeled taxi revolution, leaving app-based bikers in a legal limbo.
