Dhalli sabzi mandi infra to be upgraded

The Dhalli sabzi mandi in Shimla, one of the oldest markets in the state, is set for a significant infrastructure upgrade. The expansion of the mandi is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 37 crore and over 70 shops, two parking lots for about 200 vehicles and two more auction yards will be constructed. “The project is scheduled to be completed in 18 months,” says Pawan Saini, Secretary, Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) (Shimla and Kinnaur).

Besides being one of the oldest sabzi mandis in the state, it is also the biggest market for vegetables. “A large number of farmers bring their vegetable produce for sale in this mandi. We will ensure the construction work is carried out in such a way that the auction process is not affected,” says Saini.

NS Chaudhary, an old arhtiya at the mandi, says that the refurbished infrastructure will provide a big relief to them as well as farmers. “At present, we are working in cramped space. Due to the shortage of space, farmers have to wait for a long time to sell their produce. With more auction yards, farmers will not have to wait too long to sell their produce,” he adds.

Even as the sabzi mandi is being refurbished, there’s no concrete plan to restore the nearby fruit mandi at Bhattakuffar, which was damaged in a landslide five years ago. Though experts from institutions like the IIT-Mandi have been invited to make the auction yard safe, no concrete action has been taken to restore it.

The arhtiyas continue to function in a cramped space and there are hardly any facilities for the growers at the auction yard. “We can look at the possibility of partial apple auction at the sabzi mandi when the expansion work is over,” says Saini. “Besides, we are exploring cheaper options to restore the fruit mandi. The options offered to us so far are quite expensive,” he adds.