For traders who have hauled produce through broken roads and farmers who have watched grain rot under leaking shed roofs, Friday brought the first concrete sign that Delhi’s agricultural markets, some neglected for three decades, might finally get the repairs they have long been promised.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta laid the foundation stones for four development projects aimed at fixing basic infrastructure at agricultural markets across Delhi, at a ceremony held at the APMC office in Azadpur under the Seva Sankalp Campaign. The projects target roads, drainage, storage and technology upgrades meant to ease the daily working conditions for farmers, traders and other market visitors.
At Keshopur Fruit and Vegetable Market, internal roads more than 20 years old will be rebuilt at a cost of Rs 9.48 crore, a move intended to smooth the movement of vehicles, traders and produce through the market.
In Narela, at the New Grain Market spread across roughly 33 acres, two temporary sheds will be constructed to provide covered storage for grain, reducing the risk of damage during rain and adverse weather. At Azadpur’s New Vegetable Market, work will address sewerage and drainage lines in Blocks B and C that are nearly 30 years old, tackling sinking, damaged and blocked pipelines along with water leakage that has contributed to waterlogging and operational difficulties in the market.
A modern “Slow-Speed Weigh-in-Motion System” will also be installed at the entry and exit gates of Azadpur Fruit and Vegetable Market, allowing commercial vehicles to be weighed without coming to a complete stop, with electronic records meant to improve transparency and accountability in the weighing process.
The Chief Minister said the government’s aim was not limited to repairs or cosmetic changes, but to build infrastructure capable of serving the next 100 years, with long-term plans being drawn up after assessing each market’s specific needs. She said consultants had been appointed for the development of Tikri Khampur Fruit and Vegetable Market, with further steps already underway, and that Anuj Sharma, Vice-Chairman of the Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board, had been assigned to coordinate and monitor the work.
The Chief Minister said planned improvements would extend to new markets, internal roads, sewerage and pipeline networks, drainage, waste disposal, lighting, worker amenities and healthcare centres, along with measures to prevent stray animals from entering market premises. She said security and technology upgrades, including CCTV coverage and a Control and Command Centre, would also receive attention, with development tailored to the specific needs of markets in Ghazipur, Narela, Azadpur and Keshopur.
Development Minister Kapil Mishra said work that had remained stalled for nearly 30 years in Delhi’s markets was now gaining momentum under the Chief Minister’s leadership. The event was attended by MP Yogendra Chandolia, Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board Vice-Chairman Arjun Sharma and MLA Raj Kumar Bhatia, among other officials.