Furniture traders to be relocated to upcoming market in Sector 56

In a reprieve to traders, the UT Administration has decided to relocate the furniture market operating from the government land along the road separating Sector 53 and 54 to the upcoming bulk material market in Sector 56. The furniture market traders will be given the option to purchase commercial sites in an open auction.

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The new market in Sector 56, which is being developed at a cost of Rs 20 crore, is spread over 44 acres and have 191 plots measuring a kanal each, and 48 booths. A basement and three floors will be allowed on one kanal sites.

Previous plan

Initially, the UT Administration had planned to shift only marble traders from Dhanas to the upcoming bulk material market in Sector 56

Plots at the new market, which will be ready by May this year, will be e-auctioned soon

Now, both furniture and marble traders will get the option to bid for plots at the new market

Previously, the Administration had offered furniture traders shop spaces in the rehabilitation colony of Dhanas, but they had rejected the proposal, citing the small size of plots. They had stated that those plots were unsuitable for their business needs.

Initially, the Administration had planned to shift only marble traders from Dhanas to the bulk material market. Now, both furniture and marble traders will be given the option to bid for plots at the Sector 56 market. The UT Engineering Department has informed the Estate Office that the Sector 56 market would be ready by May this year.

Estate Office officials today held a meeting with Land Acquisition Officer Saurabh Arora to initiate the auction process for the Sector 56 market. Officials confirmed that the e-auction would be held soon, and traders from other businesses would also be eligible to bid, making the market open to multiple trades rather than exclusively for furniture and marble businesses.

Previously, the Administration had offered furniture traders shop spaces in the rehabilitation colony of Dhanas, but they had rejected the proposal citing the small size of plots. They had stated that those plots were unsuitable for their business needs. They demanded larger plots ranging from 60 to 90 yards. Following discussions, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav met furniture traders recently, urging them to participate in the upcoming auction for commercial sites.

The DC has already made it clear that traders occupying government land will eventually be removed. Furniture traders, on the other hand, argued that just as marble traders in Dhanas were being relocated to Sector 56, they too should be shifted in a similar manner.

The marble market in Dhanas currently operates from agricultural land spanning 200 acres, which the Administration plans to acquire.

According to officials, traders had been occupying prime land worth Rs 4,000 crore in Sectors 53 and 54 for the past 40 years. The Administration had acquired 227.22 acres in 2002 for development of the third phase of Sectors 53, 54 and 55, but encroachments have continued despite multiple notices over the years.

Recently, the UT Administration had turned down a request of the shopkeepers of the furniture market for allotment of an alternative site. The demand was rejected as the land upon which they were running their business was acquired in 2002. While the eviction process is on hold for now, traders will have to secure plots through the auction or face removal in the coming months.