The Jobra vending zone. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 20: The proposed fish vending zone at Jobra here has remained a non-starter about a year after inauguration.

The vending zone has now turned into a parking lot, while it is also being used to dry concrete slabs built by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation.

The municipal corporation envisaged the vending zone to rehabilitate traders selling fish near Jobra barrage.

The foundation stone of the vending zone was laid in 2010. It was subsequently inaugurated on the occasion of the local self-government day in 2012 by spending Rs 3 lakh.

However, the vending zone is yet to be made functional because of lack of co-ordination among several government departments.

“We do not know why there has been a delay in starting the vending zone as we have already paid the necessary security money to the civic body,” said a trader.

The civic body had inaugurated five vending zones — one each at Biju Patnaik Chhak, Bidanasi, OMP Square, Khapuria and Jobra — on the occasion of local self-government day on August 31 last year.

All these vending zones were a part of the 18 announced by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation.

Once the Jobra vending zone becomes operational, it is expected to resolve various issues, including traffic congestion, as many traders are engaged in selling fish along the main road here.

The entire stretch of the pavement on the Ring Road near Jobra barrage has turned into an illegal business centre, leading to frequent traffic congestion here.

“The vending zone is a need of the hour not only to rehabilitate the street vendors, but also to resolve various other issues, including traffic congestion and encroachment,” said Sudhakar Das, a local resident.

Initially, 62 traders were identified for rehabilitation at the Jobra vending zone, out of which allotments have later been made to 36 traders.

Those who have been allotted a space at the vending zone have also deposited a security money of Rs 3,000 with the civic body.

“We have decided to start the vending zone with those traders who have already been allotted with space and deposited the security money at the earliest,” said deputy secretary of the corporation Nirmal Nayak.

Nayak further said a process of selecting more traders was going on and it would be completed shortly.