Sambalpur, Sept. 10: Two Odisha Fresh vegetable outlets will open in the city by next month.

Deputy director of horticulture Sudarshan Nanda said: "A Sambalpur-based aggregator-cum-developer has shown interest in running the outlets. There is a proposal to open 20 outlets. However, the firm will begin with two outlets. Of the two outlets, one will be opened at Ainthapali and the other at Kamlibazar. The sites for opening the two outlets have already been identified. Steps will be taken to open the remaining outlets later."

The horticulture department took the initiative to set up organised vegetable outlets in the city in 2014. The department had also selected an aggregator-cum-developer to run the outlets. Seven places had been identified for opening the outlets. The bhumi puja (foundation laying ritual) for one outlet at Shanti Nagar was performed in November 2014. However, though a target was set to make the vegetable outlet functional by January 2015, the project made no headway ever since. This has made residents sceptical about the implementation of the proposal.

"The aggregator-cum-developer selected to run the outlets moved out of the project. Subsequently, another aggregator-cum-developer was selected. But he too moved out. A Sambalpur-based firm has been selected now. It has started the primary work for opening the outlets. We hope that the first two outlets will be open by October," said Nanda.

The outlets will be opened under the Vegetable Initiative for Urban Cluster Scheme of the Rastriya Krishi Vikash Yojana. The objective to set up the outlet is to encourage vegetable cultivation and to help farmers get the right price for their produce, apart from curbing the influence of middlemen. The other objective of the vegetable outlet is to provide fresh vegetables to consumers. Farmers' groups have been formed for vegetable cultivation. Odisha Fresh will be developed along the lines of Udyan Fresh.<>"With the opening of these outlets, consumers will get fresh vegetables from hygienic places at reasonable prices. It will also help encourage vegetable cultivation in this area. Farmers will get reasonable price for their produce. The authority concerned should make sure the project materialises at the earliest," said local resident Bimal Hota.