Bhubaneswar: The city administration has decided to transform Ekamra Haat into a night bazaar.
In February, municipal commissioner Krishan Kumar had proposed five locations – Ekamra Haat, Khandagiri, Unit-II, BMC-Bhawani Mall and Infocity area – for the night market. Putting all speculations to rest, Ekamra Haat won the race. Details of how to go about the project are being worked out.
Kumar said multiple agencies would be invited to execute the project. However, it has not yet been decided when the project would be commissioned.
The moment the administration proposed the plan to set up the night bazaar in the city, suggestions were sought from the public on various social media platforms. An overwhelming number of people plumped for Ekamra Haat. The proposal of the night market was posted on the official Facebook page of Bhubaneswar – Smart City in February. So far, it has become the most popular post of the page that has received over a thousand likes, as many as 125 shares and 141 comments.
Located behind Ram Mandir in the heart of the city, Ekamra Haat is one of the three urban markets developed by the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) in collaboration with various state government departments. The market witnesses a footfall of nearly 1,000 visitors per day and remains open from 10am to 10pm on weekdays. The night market is supposed to help those who work till late at night,The Telegraph reported.
“Ekamra Haat is located at a prime location of the city. We have to keep in mind the security aspect since it would be a night market. So, Ekamra Haat is the perfect place,” said an official of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority.
Though the location has been finalised, officials are in process of preparing an action plan to execute the project, he said. The official also indicated that the market might remain open till six in the morning.
The Ekamra Haat in the city houses 42 shops, 10 food kiosks, eight open pandals, one amphitheatre, two dormitories, two green rooms, one utility building for visitors and a swimming pool with greenery around. The market solely focuses on crafts items.
A Facebook user, Bishakh Rout, wrote: “I am based in Taipei, and have seen myriads of night market here. Vendors there are open for business the whole week. Ekamra Haat and Janata Maidan are good locations for night markets.”
An Utkal University student, Soubhagya Mishra, said the administration should not focus only on food and craft shops, but also consider housing essential services such as medicine shops.