While announcing a budget of `371.18 crore for the year 2017-18 for Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board (DAMB), Minister for Development, labour and Employment Gopal Rai said the Delhi Government will set up a modern mandi at Tikri Khampur in north-west Delhi with state-of-the-art facilities. The new mandi will be developed in nearly 70 acres at cost of `800 crore approximately, he added.
To modernise trade and business in the national Capital, he said the Government has planned a “technological makeover” of existing mandis into e-mandis and has installed 38 Point of Sale (PoS) machines for pushing e-transactions across the mandis.
“Our main objective is to bring more transparency and accountability in business. We also want to ensure that farmers get fair value their produce … This mandi would come up in an estimated time period of 2.5 years,” said Gopal Rai.
He also told the media that the proposed mandi at the Tikri border will relieve the loaded trucks from neighbouring States, avoiding traffic congestion in the city.
The budget expenditure proposed by the board is `434.19 crore. The changeover of all mandis is being facilitated in collaboration with the NAM Group.
The mandi will be equipped with modern facilities, following a national survey of all existing mandis. A special consultant is also being roped in to facilitate the changeover, said the Minister. Sharing the over-load of the Azadpur mandi, the Minister said, the Delhi Government will also facilitate an e-mandi at Azadpur Mandi to make it easier for traders.
Changes are also in the offing for Ghazipur Mandi where a four-storey building with modern facilities is being constructed. Besides, modernisation of the flower market at Ghazipur is also on the cards. `140 crore has been allocated for this makeover.
“It will also feature 432 shops with cold storage facilities. The poultry market will also see changes at a budget of `120 crore. It will also house a three-storey building with modern facilities and 120 shops. Among other changes, the Mongolpuri fodder market is set to be replaced by Sabzi mandi soon,” he added.
He further said, “The Azadpur cement warehouse area will witnesses changes at a cost of `20 crore for reconstruction of three sheds and upgrade of the existing drainage system. Shed number 20 at Azadpur will be renovated at a cost of `12 crore, while shed number 19 is being rebuilt at a cost of `21.5 crore.”