Chandigarh officials to visit Delhi, Indore mandis to learn best practices

To identify best practices and explore innovative engineering solutions, officials from the UT Engineering Department and the Marketing Board will undertake study visits to prominent Mandis, including Azadpur Mandi (Delhi) and Indore Mandi to learn best practices.

A meeting was today convened under the chairmanship of Hari Kalikkat, Secretary, State Agricultural Marketing Board, to review and address the infrastructure challenges of the Sector-26 Mandi. The meeting was attended by CB Ojha, Chief Engineer, the Joint Secretary, State Agricultural Marketing Board, and senior officials from the Engineering Department and the Marketing Board.

Detailed discussions were held on the deteriorating condition of the Mandi infrastructure, with particular focus on inadequate drainage and severely damaged roads. The Secretary underscored the urgency of undertaking improvements and requested the Chief Engineer to personally oversee remedial measures to ensure timely and effective resolution.

Need for water-resilient road infra flagged

The secretary highlighted the pressing need for durable, water-resilient road infrastructure in the Mandi, noting that silt and slush frequently accumulate due to the nature of agricultural produce, especially underground vegetables. He emphasized that appropriately designed roads would allow regular pressure washing to maintain hygiene standards.

The malfunctioning drainage system, particularly during the monsoon, emerged as a major concern. The Chief Engineer explained that road gullies and drainage lines are often blocked by garbage and slush, and further damaged by heavy truck movement, as the current infrastructure is not designed to withstand such loads.

To mitigate these issues, it was proposed to install iron hooks, tyre busters, or similar deterrents around the road gullies to prevent parking and minimize damage—a proposal that was agreed upon by the Chief Engineer.

The Chief Engineer also stressed the necessity of developing a customized, non-conventional infrastructure model suited to the unique operational requirements of the Mandi. To identify best practices and explore innovative engineering solutions, it was decided that teams from the Engineering Department and the Marketing Board will undertake study visits to prominent Mandis, including Azadpur Mandi (Delhi) and Indore Mandi. The insights gained from these visits will inform the planning and upgradation of Sector-26 Mandi infrastructure.