Badabazar wholesale market likely to be shifted to city outskirts

Few centuries old wholesale market at Badabazar area of Berhampur city has been proposed to be shifted to outskirts of Berhampur. It may be noted that this wholesale market which deals with grocery, vegetables as well as cloth material happens to be a major crux of this major trading city of south Odisha. But with time the area has become too congested. Passage of trucks to the area through narrow roads has become too tiresome for the traffic flow.

The amount of transaction and goods handling at this wholesale market has also increased many folds during past few decades. According to president of Ganjam Chamber of Commerce, C. Ravindranath, every day around 100 trucks carrying grocery items and other food materials cater to this market. Trucks carrying other materials also add up to this number.

Speaking to newsmen recently Ganjam district Collector, Krishen Kumar had informed that plans had been mooted to shift this major wholesale market to Haldiapadar area on the outskirts of the city. According to him this new wholesale market was to being planned to be made operational in next three to four years. The new wholesale market at Haldiapadar would be established on a patch of around 10 acres of land. There would also be a truck terminal on five acres of land near the wholesale market, the Collector said. This new wholesale market would reduce entry of loaded trucks inside the city limits. As per the plans this proposed wholesale market was to be managed by Digapahandi Regulated Market Committee (RMC).

When contacted the president of Ganjam Chamber of Commerce said till now administration had not made any detailed discussion with the traders regarding shifting of the Badabazar wholesale market to Haldiapadar area. Mr. Ravindranath demanded the administration to take traders into confidence before initiating the project. “We the traders want proper security, infrastructure and communication facility at the proposed wholesale market”, Mr. Ravindranath said. Without these facilities no trader would agree to shift to the new location, he added. The local traders wanted their involvement during the planning for the establishment of the proposed new wholesale market for the city.

Source: The Hindu