Vadodara to soon get its own open-air craft bazaar as state approves plan

Shukla, in his June 26 letter addressed to Minister Balvantsinh Rajput, sought approval to create a handicraft, art and culture space, titled Vadodara Haat, at the 65,000 square feet government plot where the now-abandoned Diamond Jubilee building stands.

Rajput was in Vadodara on Monday to preside over a government function and inaugurate an exhibition ahead of National Handloom Day.

In his letter, Shukla said, “The Commissioner of Cottage and Rural Industries has premises called Diamond Jubilee at Rajmahal Road in Vadodara, which was earlier used as a cottage industries institute. It is necessary that these premises be put to use to create a theme-based space where handlooms and artisans can attend workshops to tune their skills and market their art while citizens can boast of an attractive space in the city.”

Shukla has also enlisted eight points that the space could eventually be used for including workshops, a facility centre and dormitories for artisans, stalls where artisans could market their products, an amphitheatre for cultural events, parking facilities and a good stall serving and promoting popular regional fare of Gujarat.