The civic authority in Ranchi is ready with the capital's first dedicated vegetable market where over 300 sellers, who operate out of a road opposite Raj Bhavan, will be relocated. The move will ensure smooth flow of traffic near Raj Bhavan.
The market, built by Ranchi Municipal Corporation at over 40,000 sq feet at Naga Baba Khatal at a cost of Rs 10 crore, is awaiting formal inauguration. Chief Minister Hemant Soren will inaugurate the state of art market this month. The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has started preparations for the inauguration of the market.
The corporation will allot shops to the footpath shopkeepers selling vegetables in and around Naga Baba Khatal in the market. For this, the corporation has already started a survey of shopkeepers who will be allotted shops in the market. The corporation claims that by the end of October, shops will be allotted to the footpath shopkeepers through lottery.
At present, due to vegetable vendors on the road in Naga Baba Vegetable Market in front of Raj Bhavan, there is a traffic jam. Once the market starts functioning, the corporation will not allow vegetable vendors to set up shops along the roadside. With this, thousands of people passing through will get freedom from the day-to-day traffic jams.
More than 300 vegetable vendors will get shops in Naga Baba Khatal Vegetable Market. For this, the corporation has built 191 platforms in the market. Two shopkeepers will be settled in the big platform. Apart from this, the corporation will give space to those who sell fruits on a cart in the area around both sides of the market.
A food court has been built on the roof of the market. The corporation has arranged for seven different kitchens here. Meaning, the city dwellers will get food of many flavors under one roof. There is a complete arrangement of parking around the market.
RMC deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya said, “We have sent a proposal to the chief minister’s office, seeking a time for its inauguration. From our end, the vegetable market is ready, except for some minor finishing touches which will barely take a day or two to wrap up.”
Vijayvargiya said vendors would be allocated space using a lottery system. “Through lotteries, we will auction space. Even for vendors, the vegetable market complex will be beneficial to do business as besides proper vending zones, there will be proper facilities for drinking water and toilets,” he said. RMC is also installing over 60 high-end CCTV cameras for security.
The foundation stone of the Naga Baba vegetable market project was laid in 2017 when the Raghubar Das-led BJP government was in power. It was meant to be ready by 2020 but the project got mired in delays due alterations in design and the pandemic.
