Revamp on radar for wholesale market in Siliguri

Spread over some 50 acres, it is the largest hub of fruits, vegetables, fish and other perishables in north Bengal

Gautam Deb.: File photo

TT  |   Siliguri   |   21.09.21: The state agriculture marketing department has decided to revamp the regulated market at Mallaguri in the northern end of Siliguri.

This was decided at a recent meeting held by
Biplab Mitra, Bengal minister for agriculture marketing, at the state guest house here with officials of his department, Darjeeling district officials and chairperson of the board of administrators of Siliguri Municipal Corporation Gautam Deb.

“A private consultancy agency will prepare the detailed project report,  and after necessary formalities, work will commence in the market area,” said an official of the department.

Spread over some 50 acres, it is the largest wholesale hub of fruits, vegetables, fish and other perishables in north

Bengal. Set up in the early 1990s, it needs immediate revamp.

Every day, hundreds of trucks from all over the country bring various items to the market that has around 800 stalls. Goods worth Rs 5 crore to Rs 6 crore are transacted here every day.

“It is also the main hub from where vegetables, fish and fruits are supplied to the hills, and also from where the famed Darjeeling oranges are sent across the country and also to Bangladesh,” said a wholesale fruit merchant.

According to him, the market hardly has any space for vehicles which leads to traffic snarls. Water logging, bad roads, dirt, improper disposal of garbage, and dilapidated stalls are some obvious problems the market faces.

Officials of the state agricultural marketing department said it had been decided for now that once goods are unloaded, trucks would go to Paribahan Nagar in Matigara, 3km away, for parking.

“A boundary wall will come up, CCTVs will be put up Styrofoam boxes will be banned in the market,” said an official.