Ambala’s new vegetable market non-functional

Suman Bhatnagar

Ambala, February 5

The new vegetable market here has been lying unused for the past two years. It has been reduced to a warehouse for procurement agencies that have stocked wheat there and a playground for children who play cricket.

The previous Congress government had spent Rs 8 crore on the market spread over 25 acres. Its need arose when heavy rush in the old market located in the heart of the city resulted in traffic logjam for hours. The new market is on the GT road, around 4 km from urban localities.

The new market was inaugurated by then Ambala City legislator Venod Sharma on March 22, 2013.

Last year, the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) had auctioned off 34 out of 80 shops in the new market. All shops were allotted to “arthiyas” from the old market. Some of the “arthiyas” did not participate in the auction on the grounds that the reserve price was high, following which the auction of the remaining shops was postponed.

An arthiya, Mohanjit Singh, demanded the state government should allot shops to old commission agents of the old market at affordable reserve price. The “arthiyas” are running their business from the old market.