Pokhara, March 30:The Small Market Infrastructures Development Project has completed the development of physical infrastructures for fruit and vegetable wholesale market in Pokhara.

Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan Corporation made available 46 ropanies of land at Ward No. 9 of the town for the development of the wholesale market.

The planned market is the first “A” grade market built by the project with the United National Capital Development Fund ‘s grant assistance of about Rs 27 million.

The market complex with seventy-two shops and eighteen open halls is expected to come into operation from the Nepalese New Year Day (April 13) and necessary preparation is under way for the same.

The shops will be made available to wholesalers and the open halls to various farmers groups and co-operative enterprises.

The market complex has such facilities as electricity, telephone, approach roads, management office, assembly hall,  guard quarters, bazaar information centre, and sewerage and drainage system.

The plan is to extend the buildings to three storeys. necessary arrangement is also under way to provide with such facilities as computers, telefax, four solid waste disposal containers, according to the project.

The earning from the market will be deposited in the fund of Pokhara Agricultural Products Market Management Committee. The fund will be used to carry out repair and maintenance work and meet its administrative expenses.

The four-year agreement between His Majesty’s Government and UNCDF on planned development of fruit and vegetable wholesale and retail market in Nepal expires in a month.

During that period, the Small Bazaar (market) Infrastructures Development Project has constructed fruit and vegetable wholesale and retail markets of ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ categories in various parts of the country, according to the Project.