Finally, civic body auctions 20 booths at AC fish market

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 27

Finally, the Municipal Corporation got lucky and managed to auction 20 booths at the AC Fish and Meat Market in Sector 41 here today. Earlier on four occasions — in 2010, 2011 and January and April this year — the auction of booths at the market had been a flop show.

The response to the auction held today at the committee room of the MC office, Sector 17, was good because recently the MC had reduced the reserve price of the booths by 30 to 40 per cent.

A total of 20 booths and one chill room were put up for auction today. There were no takers for the chill room, which will now be auctioned later. The booths were auctioned for a period of five years with an annual hike of 5 per cent in the rent. The MC will generate a revenue of Rs 58.39 lakh annually.

For 12 booths, measuring 21.21 sq metre, the reserve price of the monthly rent was Rs 15,000 and for six booths (19.02 sq metre), the reserve price of the monthly rent was Rs 13,700. For two booths (39.51 sq metre), meant for wholesalers, the reserve price of the monthly rent was Rs 27,800. The auction was conducted by the MC Joint Commissioner Rajiv Gupta, Superintending Engineer (Building and Roads) NP Sharma and other officials.

The idea for an air-conditioned market was mooted in order to give residents a hygienic place to buy fish and meat. Since there are a large number of illegal vendors in the city, it was proposed that the market would ensure that they are rehabilitated. The market was built by the Administration at a cost of around Rs 1 crore and handed over to the Municipal Corporation in 2009.