Pune: After a span of 50 days, the Pune's wholesale vegetable and fruit market at Gultekdi Market Yard finally reopened on Sunday with 10 per cent supply.
Since Friday, the cleaning and sanitising of the Gultekadi Market Yard was under process. On Sunday, the market recommenced at 4.30 am.
On the first day in the market around 11,000 quintals of agricultural goods including, onion, potatoes, leafy vegetables as well as fruits bananas were landed from 200 different vehicles.
Due to the lockdown imposed amid the coronavirus, buyers and retailers did not turn up much considering the vegetables markets run in containment zones. The market witnessed many local buyers for the purchase.
Talking to Sakal Times The Pune Agricultural Produce Market Committee's (APMC ) administrator BJ Deshmukh said, "Considering the alarming incident of pandemic outbreak we had closed down but how long one can close down when the bread and butter of people are on this. From Thursday we started a drive and held meetings with various shopkeepers. Also, we have taken the necessary steps to curtail the spread of the infection. We have been practising social distancing as well as using sanitisers and gloves."
He went on, "We have sanitised the area and only two gates of the market will be functioning. The social distancing will be maintained and strict action will be taken if anybody found spitting. We have made few changes like 50 per cent of staff and workers will work every alternative day, as well as one entire row of the market yard, will open and the next day the opposite side row will be functioning. One shop, one vehicle. The truck drivers today also underwent thermal scanning."
He added, "The start after 50 days is good as a lot of vegetable supply that had come is already finished. While around 4,000 quintals of vegetables were sold in Moshi, Uttamnagar, Khadki, Manjari and other sub-markets areas. The main market and submarket of the city received 15,000 quintals of goods from 471 vehicles total in Pune district. The market, which has been closed for the last 50 days, will take a few more days to recover. The prices will remain under control due to the increase in supply and demand. In this way, the markets will now operate in swing."
1. The vegetable vendors and other people's temperatures will be checked and based on which they will be permitted.
2. Every vendor and his staff will be provided sanitizer.
3. Barricades are being placed at post office chowk and Utsav building.
4. 70 committee members and around 25-30 policemen will be guarding the market.
5. The workers have been given identity cards which they have shown and entry will be given post checking.
