Work on integrated markets stalls in Kothagudem constituency, traders left in the lurch

Construction of integrated vegetable and meat markets in Kothagudem, Paloncha and other towns has come to a halt due to non-release of funds. Small traders, hoping for better facilities, continue to operate on roads amid rising urban traffic issues.

Kothagudem: In line with the increasing urbanisation, to avoid inconvenience to traders and people the previous BRS government initiated construction of integrated vegetable and meat market complexes.

As the small traders do business by the side of roads, the integrated markets aim to put an end to the traffic problems by bringing all the traders to activities in one place. The government has allotted funds under Pattana Pragathi programme

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Tenders were finalised and the construction work has been launched in Kothagudem, Paloncha, Yellandu and Manugur municipalities. Forty to fifty percent of the work was completed. But after the Congress government came to power, the work slowed down. Currently, the construction works have been completely stopped due to non-release of funds.

In Kothagudem constituency the previous BRS government has allocated Rs. 9 crore to Kothagudem and Paloncha municipalities, with Rs. 4.50 crores each to build modern integrated markets. Separate structures were planned for vegetable, meat and flower traders.

Small traders hoped that they could conduct business smoothly without any problems if these shops were allocated. But the government is dashing their hopes. It has been planned to allocate shops for about 150 traders in the market being built at Kothagudem Rythu Bazar and for 148 traders in the market being built in Paloncha.

But as the construction work stopped halfway, small traders, farmers are forced to run their businesses on the roads. The municipal authorities should complete the construction work immediately and allocate shops to the traders, demanded a former BRS councillor Rukmangadhar Bandari.

When contacted public health DE Srinivas, he said that the work has been stopped due to lack of budget. The government has agreed to release funds at present and if the funds are released, the work would be resumed and completed speedily.