Neighbourhood markets on cards

BHUBANESWAR: If the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has its way, citizens will have to go only ‘next door’ for shopping.  In an initiative which will save time and fuel, the civic body has identified areas in each ward to set up neighbourhood market complexes. The idea is to provide uniform vending zones across the City. Each market complex will have around 30 to 40 shops, parking lots and other amenities. Lands in all 60 wards have been identified for market complexes and the proposal is awaiting the nod of the General Administration Department.  ‘’Once the GA Department gives its approval, the project can take off,’’ announced BMC Commissioner Vishal K Dev.  Illegal vendors encroaching on thoroughfares are creating traffic snarl-ups. The initiative will ease congestions for smooth flow of traffic too. Of late, the BMC has been at the receiving end for mushrooming of illegal vending zones.  ‘’We would provide additional vending zones at the cost of illegal ones,’’ reasoned Dev. NO-VENDING ZONES: The BMC has also identified 12 no-vending zones in the City and will rid the areas of shops and commercial establishments soon. ‘’Places outside the railway station and the airport catch the attention of visitors first. The purpose of creating the no-vending zones is to keep these places clean so that they don’t become eyesores,’’ said Dev. The no-vending zones include stretches from Capital Hospital to Sishu Bhawan Square, Capital Hospital to Housing Board Square via AG Square, AG Square to Governor House Square, PMG Square to Bhubaneswar Railway Station via Master Canteen, Housing Board Square to Ram Mandir, Ram Mandir to Big Bazaar (Kharavela Nagar) and Biju Patnaik Airport Gate to Palaspalli.  The encroachments by vendors are also creating gridlocks at important traffic junctions. A proper monitoring mechanism will be put in place to ensure that there are no encroachments in future, he said. The no-vending areas were decided jointly by the Public Works Department (PWD), Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Commissionerate Traffic apart from the BMC.