Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday directed authorities to provide night meals at 54 Aahar centres near hospitals in urban areas in the State.

The decision in this regard was taken in order to help people finding food at cheap rates, while attending their relatives at various hospitals, an official said.

To extend the facility, the State government has urged the people to donate to continue the scheme. The donations will be received online only and will be completely tax free.

The general people can donate food through Aahar centres on their birthdays, wedding day, anniversaries and death anniversaries.

Launched in April 2015, the noon-meal scheme aims to provide cooked rice and dalma at Rs 5 at places of public congregations in the urban areas.

At present, there are Aahar centres in 76 municipal areas in the state. The State government will open new Aahar centres in 32 more urban areas from January 26. With this, the number of people availing the facility per day will go up to one lakh, the CM added.