APMC to approach World Bank for integrated wholesale marketing facility

The project is part of the modernisation plans to bring all wholesale markets (except Jetalpur grains market) at one place to ease operations and decongest traffic in the city. APMC secretary Narendrasinh Chhasatiya said that once the integrated wholesale marketing facility is in place,the existing wholesale market premises at Jamalpur,Vasna,Naroda,Sardar Bridge and Kubernagar will be converted into retail markets.

APMC has given advertisements for land requirement in local newspapers with a precondition that the entire land must have a clear title. But Chhasatiya admitted that this is a difficult task considering such a large chunk of land.

The new marketing complex will have wholesale marketing facilities for onions and potatoes,vegetables,fruits and flowers in different segments,but with easy inter segment approachability.

Chhasatiya said the APMC will shift the markets only after the installation of basic infrastructure like automated sweeping,drainage,water supply,road network,bus connectivity,electricity,parking and banking,besides processing facilities like washing,cleaning,grading and packaging of farm produce like vegetables and fruits,and a controlled atmosphere storage facility for flower preservation.

Basic facilities like telephone exchange,telegraph office,post office,mini theatre,swimming pools,library,auditorium,hotels,eateries and restaurants will enable traders and customers to operate from 8 am to 8 pm day in and day out,he said. Besides,CCTV cameras at strategic points will ensure that no anti-social activities take place on the premises of the environment friendly market,which has been equipped with solar panels and water recycling plants.

APMC vice-chairman Pravinbhai Patel said that policy issues like funding pattern and licence fees fixation will be taken up at a later stage. He said any opposition to shifting of markets is unlikely because the new premises would not only be a better accessible place for those coming from outside the city,but will also help cut long distances from one market premises to another within the city.

This will also ease traffic congestion in the city,with heavy and light commercial vehicle movement restricted to the outskirts,Patel said.