How the elevated APMC, to be inaugurated by CM today, will help ease business

Sources said the Surat APMC has maintained a top position in the state in terms of income for the second consecutive year and has now also become the first elevated APMC in the state.

Due to space shortage, the APMC authorities constructed the first floor in the existing market and renovated the approximately 28-year-old structure. The existing market was 428 galas (plots/stalls where the vegetables are placed for display). With an elevated structure, over 100 galas have been added to benefit traders and sellers.

Sources said a 100-ft ramp has been built to reach the modern market, with passenger and goods lift facilities.

An ample parking area for cars and two-wheelers on the second-floor terrace, as well as facilities including a canteen and a washroom, are available in this market. Sources said around Rs 200 crore had been spent on constructing the elevated structure in the existing Surat APMC market.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil and other dignitaries will accompany CM Patel.

Surat Agricultural Produce Market Committee President and Choryasi BJP MLA Sandeep Desai said, “Daily, 12,000 to 15,000 people move around in Surat APMC for business dealings in connection  with vegetables and grains. Also, thousands of people get employment here daily. Vegetables arrive at the Surat market from other states,  such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. The annual turnover is around Rs 3,700 crore, and mango pulp is exported both domestically and internationally. Along with this, the first plant to make biogas from vegetable waste is functioning in Surat APMC market itself.”

APMC Board of Directors Babu Shaikh said, “Our APMC has been facing regular problems of traffic. With the city’s population increasing, the inflow of vegetables has also risen. With the elevated structure, vehicles can be parked on the upper floors, which will make traffic movements easier. Due to these traffic issues, many vegetable growers had to sell their produce in other districts, but this has now been resolved. The new stalls (plots) on the upper floors are large enough to accommodate cold storage facilities for storing vegetables, which are not currently available at the APMC. A certified Agro Medical shop has also been started, where the vegetable growers can get solutions to all the issues faced by them.”

After 28 years, 428 plots to be revamped

The plots on the ground floor of Surat APMC were built in 1997. Now, after 28 years, these plots have also been renovated. Apart from a fresh coat of paint, better lighting and fans, a new road has also been built.
APMC medical treatment will be free, seeds will be available at street price.

Surat APMC is the first in Gujarat to provide free medical treatment to farmers, landowners, truck owners, porters, labourers and traders. A clinic has also been started at the APMC market for the past month. Around 30 farmers, traders and porters will receive treatment in this clinic every day. A doctor will always be present here. Apart from this, facilities have been set up at the APMC to ensure that farmers receive seeds of various crops at street prices.