The association said that the decision of the Chandigarh Administration to auction the SCOs as per the terms and conditions of Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007, should be reviewed in view of the trades.
A DAY after the UT Administration announced the auction of 92 shop-cum-office (SCO) sites at the Grain, Fruit and Vegetable Market at Sector 39, traders working at the Sector 26 Grain Market for decades have raised a number of concerns. The traders’ association said that there should be reserved auction prices for the existing traders, who will be shifted to Sector 26 from 39.
The association said that the decision of the UT Administration to auction the SCOs as per the terms and conditions of Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007, should be reviewed in view of the trades. Traders are yet to decide about the functioning of their shops once they are shifted to Sector 39. “How can sites for the fruit/vegetable traders, governed by the rules of the marketing board, be auctioned according to Estate Rules? All business-related affairs including earmarking of sites, prices of the sites, auction, etc., are governed as per the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, which has pro-traders’ provisions that protect the interests of traders dealing in agricultural products. If the administration has decided to hold an open auction for 92 SCOs for existing authorised licensees, there should be a capping of trader-friendly reserved price. At present, there are 165 traders and so far, the administration listed 92 traders but their names are yet to be announced,” Brij Mohan, president of Sabzi Mandi Arthiya Association, Sector 26, told The Indian Express.
Sanjay Gupta, vice president of the Grain Market Welfare Association, Sector 26, said, “If the administration wants to succeed, it should give preference to existing traders. We welcome the decision to shift the market from Sector 26, which has been a congested area. But we need trader-friendly reserved prices for the auction of sites in the new market. The administration either decides the control rates or sell the sites to the traders on the collector rates”.
The Sector 26 grain market has around 150 showrooms and around 100 booths allotted to commission agents, traders, etc.
The Sector 39 market is spread over 75 acres, unlike the Sector 26 market, which is only 25 acres with no scope of further extension. A senior Chandigarh Marketing Board officer said, “Traders’ concerns will be protected at all costs. Auction of SCOs and allotment of SCOs are different subjects. A file related to the matter of allotment under the the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961 is pending with the MHA”.
The administration had acquired 75 acres in Sector 39 in 1990 and earmarked the land for the vegetable market in 2002 to de-congest the Sector 26 grain market. The construction work was stopped in 2015 due to shortage of funds. In 2015, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had instructed the UT Administration to get the market functional. In response, the administration had assured the court that the market would be operational by March 31, 2016, but for six years, the matter continued to be delayed.
Small-time vendors also worried
Fruit/vegetable vendors selling items on rehris near the market said they are worried about their future. Ram Yadav, a vendor said, “Sector 26 is the central point which attracts thousands of customers. The new site at Sector 39 is far away and in the outer area. Our small trade will definitely hurt due to this”.
Sec 26 grain market origins
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The grain market at Sector 26 has been operational since 1960. The market was being operated in Bijwara Market in Sector 22. Four years ago, the Sector 26 market was the biggest apple market in Asia. In 2017-18, the apple trade shifted to Sector 20, Panchkula. At least 550 trucks are loaded and unloaded every day at the market and double the number come and go every two days at the nearby transport area in Sector 26. The Sector 26 grain market has been quite influential politically as well, with wealthy traders having a stake in governance of the city, often influencing city-based policies.
A senior Chandigarh Marketing Board officer said, “The shifting will also ease the traffic flow on Madhya Marg specifically between Housing Board light point to the grain market. The trucks will come to Sector 39 through Vikas Marg, which is lies in outer Chandigarh”.
Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting.
Professional Background
Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters.
Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India.
Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh:
1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth.
2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025).
3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025)
4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025)
Legal & Agricultural Affairs
"Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned.
"Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.
3. Governance & Environment
"Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act.
"Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters.
Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc:
crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023)
Signature Beats
Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs.
X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar
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