Lhakpa Quendren

Gelephu—The vendors in Gelephu no longer have to endure the hardships of the deteriorated shed, as the newly constructed Gelephu integrated vegetable market is ready for relocation starting February this year.

The two-storey structure, located a few metres opposite the current market, was inaugurated yesterday by Laytshog Lopen Sangay Dorji of the Zhung Dratshang.

The structure was completed in April 2024.

The integrated market can accommodate 101 vendors: 46 for imported vegetables, 20 for farm produce, nine for fruits, five for doma (areca nut), six for homemade products, four for dairy and fish, and 11 for meat shops.

The Gelephu Integrated Market can accommodate 101 vendors

The Gelephu Thromde administration will allocate the compartments in the coming days.

With the monsoon approaching, the relocation provides much-needed support to vendors who have long endured the hardships of rainwater seepage and direct heat under the CIG sheet during the monsoon. The water from the waste piled above the shed enters during the rainy season, which makes the site unhygienic.

The old vegetable market shed suffers from rainwater seepage and direct heat under the CIG sheet during the monsoon

Vendor Chencho Gyeltshen said the relocation provided much-needed relief, though the compartments are a bit more cramped than those in the old shed.

“The new market is secure and has all the facilities, including public toilets,” he said.

Forty-seven-year-old Zongki from Chhukha, who sells indigenous products, said the new market was safe for mothers.

“My daughter, a mother of a young child, mostly stays at the stall while I look after the kid at home. She can now bring her child to work as the new market is clean. The old shed gets dusty in winter, and we have to sprinkle water to control it,” she said.

The vendors also have to carry out minor maintenance almost every year, without which rats frequently damage the products.

The small businesses set up alongside the current vegetable market are concerned about their future, as the new market can only accommodate vegetable vendors. These include six businesses selling religious items and five selling kitchen and cosmetic products.

Sonam Rinchen, 75, from Tingtibi, who sells religious items, said there is a lack of shop space in the town, and it is expensive even if they manage to find one.

“Currently, I pay a monthly rent of Nu 2,800, which is very affordable. I sell items worth between Nu 1,500 and 3,000 a day,” he said. “We are worried, but we hope the government will address our concerns.”

Deoki Mongar, 33, selling kitchen items and cosmetics, said the space she currently rents for Nu 1,600 a month would otherwise cost Nu 20,000 to 30,000 in private buildings in town.

“Even if available, we have to buy the space, which is very expensive,” she said. “With cheaper rent, we could sell at competitive rates and attract customers.”

However, she said the thromde administration, when providing the space in the old shed a decade ago, informed them that they would not be getting it during the relocation.

“We are grateful for the space provided over the years to run our business,” said Deoki Mongar.

A thromde official said that while the old shed stands unappealing in the town, there are no new plans for it, including immediate dismantling.

“The new market shed is dedicated to the vendors and lacks space, even if we intended to accommodate others,” said the official.

The construction started in February 2021, with a completion date set for January 2022.

However, the thromde extended the deadline three times due to challenges faced by the contractor, Chukha Construction Private Limited, including a labour shortage and rising construction material costs during the pandemic.

The project is funded by the Government of India’s Small Grants Programme with a budget of Nu 44 million.