The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) plan to open the newly-built state-of-the-art fish market at Shahganj for the public received a major jolt on Tuesday when around 25 sellers expressed apprehensions in relocating. The fish sellers rejected the civic body’s proposal to occupy blocks in the new market and informed municipal commissioner Om Prakash Bakoria about their intentions. The sellers believe buyers would not come to the new market as it’s located in a congested area and lacks parking facility. In a memorandum to municipal chief, the sellers said they want a new market at Central Naka which is one of the biggest fish markets in the city. “People from all parts of the city come here to buy fish. The Central Naka fish market is ideally located market and thus we want the municipal body to develop an independent market here instead of asking the fish sellers to relocate to Shahganj market,” said Bashir Ahmed Qureshi, a fish seller. Another seller said “Roads leading to Shahganj are quite narrow and the place often witnesses traffic congestion. Right from the beginning, we were opposing the market in Shahganj. Central Naka could have been a better place, but the municipal authorities built the market at a wrong place and now insisting us that we should leave our old place and relocate.” He added, “All sellers want to continue their trade at Central Naka. The municipal body can offer us a separate place at Central Naka and streamline the fish market.” However, Bakoria said the new market would soon prove beneficial. Sources told TOI that the municipal body has agreed to give some discount in rent to motivate the sellers. For the past few months, the municipal authorities have been motivating the sellers to the shift their shops in the new market. The project was initiated in February 2013, but the municipal body are still struggling to start it. Initially, the municipal authorities had to change the market location on two occasions after opposition from local residents. Finally, the authorities started construction work on a plot near Shahganj vegetable market. It took them more than three years to complete the facility. The sellers believe that buyers from far of places would not visit the new market. It is beneficial only for customers staying near Shahganj. The market has been developed through special funding from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB). Out of the total project cost of Rs 1.84 crore, the NFDB has offered 90% of the fund while the civic body chipped in the remaining money.
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