Process underway to transfer land for Kisan Ghar, Transport Yards at Bijbehara Fruit Mandi: Govt

Srinagar, Oct 30: The government on Thursday said that the process of transferring 65 Kanals of adjoining land has been initiated for the construction of a Kisan Ghar, transport yards, and additional auction phars at the Bijbehara Fruit Mandi in Anantnag district.

The minister in charge of agriculture production, in a written reply to an unstarred question by MLA Syed Basir Veeri Shah, informed the assembly that the present mandi has been functional since August 2024.

“Construction of additional auction phars has been taken up under SASCI with an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore during the current financial year 2025–26, and the work is in progress,” the reply stated.

Responding to Shah’s query on whether the terminal, whose foundation was laid in 2014 at Jablipora-Bijbehara, was intended to serve as a terminal market at the national and international level, the minister said the mandi and vegetable market were established to help growers and traders earn competitive prices for their horticultural produce. “Over the years, substantial infrastructure development at the mandi has been carried out under various RIDF schemes of NABARD and the PMDP,” the government said. The developed infrastructure includes 298 kanals of mandi area comprising 12 auction platforms, three lavatory blocks, one gate plaza, a market yard, and a guard room.

The mandi was fully commissioned during 2024–25 and recorded a trade volume of Rs 282.96 crore in that fruit season. The government said the mandi continues to operate successfully during the current season, recording a trade turnover of approximately Rs 200 crore so far.