Bhatkal: Bhatkal Town Municipal Council (TMC) in-charge president, Mohiddin Altaf Kharuri, has announced that the newly constructed hi-tech fish market on Hospital Road will be opened to the public from September 1, marking the official start of fish trading at the facility.
He informed that the auction process for the shops was completed recently, during which Abdul Qadir Faisal, alias Shammas Kobbatte, placed the highest bid and secured the contract to operate the market for one year.
According to Altaf Kharuri, the new hi-tech fish market has more than 60 designated points for selling fish, along with additional space on the first floor for either trading or office purposes. Facilities such as toilets and bathrooms have been provided for both customers and sellers, while all essential and modern arrangements have been made to ensure smooth and hygienic fish trading.
He further stated that in 2016-17, the Coastal Development Board sanctioned ₹1.38 crore for the construction of the hi-tech fish market in Bhatkal. After completion of construction in 2018, the then district in-charge minister, R.V. Deshpande, inaugurated the facility. However, due to various issues over the past seven to eight years, the old market could not be closed and fish trading could not be shifted to the new premises. In the recent general body meeting of the municipal council, it was decided to operationalize the hi-tech fish market without further delay. Following cleaning and minor repair works, the market will now be launched on September 1.
Altaf Kharuri appealed to the public of Bhatkal and fish traders to take full advantage of the facilities available at the new market from September 1 and ensure that fish are purchased only from there.
TMC in-charge chief officer Venkatesh Nauda and municipal standing committee chairman Qaiser Mohtisham, along with other councillors, were present during the auction process for the market.