Mohali AC market likely to end up in private hands

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 23

Five years after the Badal government’s pilot project of an AC fruit and vegetable market at Phase 11 failed to find any takers, the Punjab Mandi Board authorities now contemplate handing over the site to some private player.

Board Chairman Lal Singh said the decision to give the site to some private player would be taken soon. “The site is lying abandoned at the moment. At least three attempts of auctioning shops in the market had already proved to be a damp squib as no trader showed interest in buying shops here. Now, we want to utilise the space by giving it to some private firm, which can run its own project like hotel or any other such venture,” said Lal Singh. 

“The issue will be discussed during a high-level meeting here tomorrow,” he said. 

The main reason for the failure of the project is said to be the high cost of the shops at the market. During previous auctions, the reserve price of a retail shop was fixed at Rs 1.54 crore while that of an AC booth Rs 40 lakh. Local traders say the rates were very high. The authorities agree with the reason.

It was the first AC market of the state on which the Badal government had spent Rs 50 crore. Former CM Parkash Singh Badal had inaugurated it with much fanfare in February 2014. After its inauguration, the site has been used for political and election rallies several times. In the past, efforts were made to hand over the arena to some private player but in vain. There are a total of 129 shops and booths in the AC market.

High cost of shops failed project

• There are a total of 129 shops and booths in the AC market.
• The main reason for the failure of the project is said to be the high cost of the shops at the market. 
• During previous auctions, the reserve price of a retail shop was fixed at Rs 1.54 crore while that of an AC booth at Rs 40 lakh. 
• Local traders blame it on high rates, the authorities agree.