Chandigarh steps up process to shift mandi to Sec 39

Following the recent inspection by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, the UT Administration has sped up the process to shift the Sector 26 mandi to the new site in Sector 39. The auction of the shop-cum-offices (SCOs) in the new mandi is expected to be completed by March 31.

During his visit to the mandi in Sector 26 and the new site in Sector 39 on Thursday, Kataria had directed the officials concerned to expedite the auction process.

After the visit, UT Agriculture Secretary Hari Kalikat chaired a meeting where modalities for auctioning the shop sites the new mandi in line with the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007, were discussed.

After getting approval from the Administrator, the State Agriculture Marketing Board recently constituted an eight-member committee to conduct the auction of 46 shops in the first phase.

The committee will hold an open auction for the public and the shops will be allotted on a leasehold basis for 99 years, instead of freehold. The reserve price for each 120-square-yard unit has been fixed at Rs 3.75 crore.

Out of a total of 92 shops, the remaining units will be put up for auction in the second phase, as per the terms and conditions of the Chandigarh Estate Rules, 2007.

The issue of shifting the Sector 26 mandi to Sector 39 has been pending for a long time. A piece of land measuring 75 acres in Sector 39 was acquired in 1990 and the site was allotted for the new market in 2002. After the allotment of shops, the Sector 26 market will be de-notified.

The shifting hit hurdles as Kajauli waterworks pipelines were passing beneath the new site. An official said as relocating the water pipelines was not feasible, they had planned to develop a green belt over the lines.

The meeting was attended by Pavitter Singh, Administrator of the Market Committee’ and Rajiv Tewari, Joint Secretary of the State Agricultural Marketing Board, and others.