Reconstruction of roads at Haldwani mandi has remained stalled for about a year, despite an approved budget of ₹1.80 crore and a completed tender process. The delay is affecting more than 1,500 farmers who visit the market daily, along with commission agents, labourers and shoppers.

The Uttarakhand Agricultural Produce Marketing Board is the implementing agency for the work. The project covers the roughly 42-acre mandi campus. Officials had planned to begin construction from 12 October, but work had not started by the time of the report.

Vehicles and loading work affected

Around 400 vehicles arrive at the mandi each day from the hill and Terai regions carrying agricultural produce. Mud and piles of soil outside the commission shops are making loading and unloading more difficult for labourers.

Drivers are also facing problems on the damaged roads. The road surface has deteriorated further after a 4-decade-old drinking-water pipeline was replaced this year.

Road repairs inside the mandi have largely been limited to filling potholes since 2012. Traders say the heavy movement of vehicles and water flowing from drains onto the roads have continued to worsen the damage.

Tarun Bansal, a grain commission agent, said the poor roads were troubling traders and the public. He said an inquiry should establish where the road-construction file was pending.

Kailash Joshi, president of the Fruit and Potato Traders Association at Haldwani mandi, said traders had sought concrete roads from the Mandi Parishad because of the long-standing deterioration.

Officials promise an early start

Kedar Singh Brijwal, deputy general manager (technical) of the Uttarakhand Agricultural Produce Marketing Board, said the tender process had been completed and the budget released. He added that the concerned officials had been instructed to begin construction soon.

Until the work starts, farmers bringing produce, vehicle operators, traders and labourers must continue using roads affected by potholes, mud and drainage water. The immediate pending step is the start of the approved reconstruction project.

Conclusion

Haldwani mandi’s ₹1.80 crore road-reconstruction project has cleared the budget and tender stages but remains unstarted, leaving daily users to cope with damaged and muddy roads. Officials have directed the concerned staff to begin the work soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is delaying the road work at Haldwani mandi?

The budget was released about a year ago and the tender process has been completed, but construction had not started by the time of the report.

Q. How much will the road reconstruction cost?

The reconstruction project has an estimated cost of ₹1.80 crore.

Q. How many farmers visit the mandi daily?

More than 1,500 farmers visit the mandi each day.

Q. How many vehicles bring produce to the mandi daily?

Around 400 vehicles arrive from the hill and Terai regions with agricultural produce each day.

Q. Who is responsible for the project?

The Uttarakhand Agricultural Produce Marketing Board is the implementing agency.