Bhubaneswar, Aug. 8: Both handicrafts sellers and tourists will shortly be able to make use of a single location to sell wares and shop from respectively.

The state government has decided to set up a special vending zone in the city to promote handicraft products of the state.

The state and handloom and handicrafts department has written to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to identify a location. The vending zone will be set up on the lines of the special fruits vending zone of BMC at Kharvela Nagar here.

"The objective is to provide a good platform to handicraft artisans who are not getting adequate marketing support for sale of their products," said director of handicrafts and cottage industries Sanghamitra Kanungo.

The vending zone will also help tourists who cannot find a one-stop location to shop for such products. At present, there are very few places in the state where authentic handicrafts are available such as Ekamra Haat and the one run by the state SC and ST department near Rupali Square.

After receiving the letter from the handicraft department, the civic body is in process of identifying a suitable site for creating yet another special vending zone meant only for handicrafts products. At present, the civic body has one such special vending zone meant for only fruit sellers on Janpath in Unit III.

"We have received the letter from the handicraft directorate and are in the process of considering their request. We will have a meeting with them and also with our officials to select an appropriate site to set up the special vending zone for handicrafts. This will certainly boost the handicrafts sector," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

"There are not many state-run handicraft showrooms in the state. If various crafts items are available at one place, it will attract tourists and be helpful for buyers," Jena added.

Crafts items such as brass and bell metal ware, silver filigree products, terracotta products, appliqué works and other stone and woodcarving items will be available at the shops. Steps will be taken to ensure that traditional artisans get the kiosks and the items are sold at reasonable rates.

So far, the civic body runs as many as 46 vending zones across the city with 1,699 kiosks. Civic body sources said according to the demand in relation to the city's population, there was a need for 300 vending zones. They hinted that a new vending zone in Bomikhal area had been proposed, which could be selected as the special vending zone for handicraft products.